Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Works/Water Wastewater Committee met Jan. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Cahoe, Marcier, Barragree, Garfield, Miller Alderwoman Rohlfs and Mayor Allhands

ABSENT: Alderwoman Musk

GUESTS: Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor and Keith Mulholland with Robinson Engineering

Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 6:40 pm. There was no public comment. Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor reported on the following projects:

Meter Reading Improvements-Radios: 160 radio read meters have been installed as of today

Fire Hydrants: 315 hydrants mapped and serviced, flow testing is completed, reports have been received, and the next steps are to repair or replace broken hydrants, paint tops to reflect flow.

Oxidation Ditch: Punch list is nearly completed, valve stems and wheels need repainted, the bypass gate was installed 1-11-2023

New Well: Still waiting on the final proposal from Peerless to include the electrical from B&D Electric

Well 6: Loren and Keith stated they are still trying to find an Air Stripper rental unit Road Improvements: Lavicka has backfilled behind curbs and sidewalks on all road projects and will do yard restoration in the Spring. There was a lengthy discussion about the current road project. Discussion about S 3rd St and the crown that is has. Keith stated they will be doing more core samples in the next week or two. The road project will be put out to bid again in February. There was also discussion about what roads could be paid for with TIF monies. Alderman Cahoe stated there are several streets that were on the original list that haven’t been mentioned yet.

Drainage Project along Walnut St: Public works will start to remove trees once the ground is frozen good.

Locust/Brown Street Manhole Project: Still waiting on railroad permitting GIS Mapping: Loren has a proposal from Wessler Engineering for $27,800 for wastewater and stormwater mapping. Alderman Marcier makes a motion to recommend to the Council to accept the proposal from Wessler Engineering for $27,800 for wastewater and stormwater mapping and Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 7-0. Staffing: Still 2 employees short and 1 employee is out for FMLA leave and a new employee was re-hired. Loren stated he would like to make Austin Kidwell a Supervisor and increase his pay to $27/hour and to receive the normal increase in May. Alderman Marcier makes a motion to recommend to the Council to make Austin Kidwell a Public Works Supervisor and increase his pay to $27.00 per hour beginning 1/9/23 and he will receive the normal increase in pay in May. Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

Miscellaneous: The televising truck was removed from Ford and is now at C&L Trucking. Loren has a quote for a used truck at about $115,000, he is still getting prices on a new truck. Mowing was discussed next. Loren would like to bring the mowing back in house but to do this the city will need 2 more mowers, a truck and trailer and 1 maybe 2 more employees. He stated the would like to try maybe a high school kid or a college kid to work park time mowing. Last year the city paid out $115,000 in mowing. Loren has quotes from McCullough’s for 2 zero turn Kubota mowers for a cost of $18,725 which includes a 72” deck. He contacted John Deere but they will not have mowers available until October 2023. The Kubota’s are in stock. With the purchase of these mowers the city will have 4 total. Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to recommend to the Council to purchase 2 Kubota mowers ZD1211-3-60 with a 72” deck for a cost of $18725.00 each and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

Loren also has a quote for a new skid loader. The current loader is a 2004. He has a quote for a bobcat at $79,750 and a Kubota Skid loader for $65,000 and all of the current attachments will fit this Kubota. After some discussion Alderman Marcier makes a motion to recommend to the Council to purchase a Kubota Skidsteer from McCullough’s for $65,000 and Alderman Cahoe seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

Loren also has a quote for a new pick up from Ford for $50,537 and Dralles’s for $40,700 plus title and plate. This truck will be used for operations and for mowing. It will be a V8 and be 4 wheel drive. Alderman Garfield makes a motion to recommend to the Council to purchase a 2023 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado 4WD Crew Cab from Dralle’s for $40,700 plus title and plate and Alderman Marcier seconded. Roll call carried 7-0. Keith with Robinson Engineering stated the City was awarded the Martin Ave extension grant and he is busy getting paperwork submitted to HUD and letters to the neighbors because its in the 100 year floodplain.

Loren stated he has been talking with Metropolitan about the Mulberry St lift station and they are thinking now the trouble might be an air lock instead of pumps. More information will be given next month.

Mayor Allhands gave the committee an update on extending TIF districts and the historical district.

Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to adjourn at 7:45 and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/public-works-water-wastewater-1-17-23.pdf