FLINT, MI - The Flint city council has approved two contracts that will fund the third phase of water service line replacement in the city.

Council members unanimously approved contracts Monday, Oct. 10, with Goyette Mechanical and WT Stevens Construction to complete 748 more pipeline replacements. Council members Jackie Poplar, Herbert Winfrey and Wantwaz Davis were not present for the vote.

The third phase will be funded using a portion of $25 million approved by the Michigan Legislature in June that was allocated for replacing Flint lead tainted pipes for Fast Start's third phase, which will replace infrastructure at an estimated 5,000 homes in Flint.

Goyette will be paid $1,663,300.60 for replacements at 260 addresses in city wards two, six and eight. WT Stevens will be paid $2,306,384 for replacements at 488 addresses in city wards three, four, eight and nine.

Council approved the contracts despite an ongoing dispute over a garbage contract that threatened to stall city business.

Councilman Scott Kincaid said last week that he would push for council to table items from Flint Mayor Karen Weaver after the council and Weaver's administration were unable to reach an agreement over the city's new garbage contract.

However, no council members pushed Monday night for the new pipe replacement contracts to be tabled.

Weaver's office announced earlier in the day that 192 homes have received pipe replacements through the second phase of the FAST Start replacement initiative. The second phase is expected to wrap up at the end of the week with at least 200 homes receiving replacements.

"Rain this past week slowed work, but crews won't quit until they get lead-tainted pipes replaced at 200 homes or more in this second phase of FAST Start," Weaver said in a statement. "We're on track to soon begin the third phase of FAST Start and replace service lines at hundreds more homes this fall."

Three contractors were initially selected for work in the second phase, including Goyette, WT Stevens and Johnson & Wood.

Fast Start's project coordinator Michael McDaniel told the council the city received six bids for the third phase of replacements, but only Goyette and WT Stevens were able to do the work for $5,000 or less per home, which was a requirement placed on the state funding.

Flint residents are still being advised not to drink unfiltered city water despite decreasing lead levels.