A Highland Park city official said the city is continuing work to replace water mains and remove lead lines, and that the next phase will focus on side streets in the southeast quadrant.

The staff member said markers have been placed and the city is “getting ready to start construction,” although it is unclear whether work will begin before the snow break or in the spring. “We have noticed start noticing flags in our grass … which indicates that now they're telling people where the … gas lines are, water lines are,” the staff member said.

The official emphasized the public-health rationale for the project, saying the new pipes will carry clean water “no lead in them, no rust,” and contrasted the new material with older galvanized pipes. The speaker used a material name that was unclear in the record when describing the pipe type; the record quotes the speaker as saying a name that sounded like “ice p PCB.”

Officials warned residents to expect more dust and disturbance where crews dig. The staff member said, “it's gonna get real dusty around there,” and asked for patience as the work continues.

The official did not provide a specific start date, cost, contractor name, or a complete schedule. Placement of work and sequencing will follow utility marking and contractor planning, she said.

City officials did not cite specific statutory or funding authorities in the remarks. Additional details on contractors, exact schedule and funding sources were not specified during the remarks.