Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Works Committee met May 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

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

ABSENT: Alderman Muench and Alderwoman Musk

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

Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 6:36 pm. There was no public comment. Public Works Loren Grosvenor reported on the following projects:

Meter Reading Improvements: 475 more radios were received May 5th and will be installed soon.

Fire Hydrants: The department is ready to start painting as soon as staffing is back up. The six hydrants ordered are now in stock.

Oxidation Ditch: Waiting on a tool to fix the rotor. Public Works will fix this. New Well: Robinson’s completed the survey field work for the new well transmission main. Well 6: Still looking for an air stripper.

Drainage Project along Walnut St: Still waiting on the railroad. Loren stated he is thinking about just moving along with the project with the railroad.

Locust/Brown Street Manhole Project: Still waiting on the railroad

GIS Mapping: In person training is scheduled for June 6th with 2 or 3 employees. This information will stay with the city forever and not leave when a department head leaves. Staffing: Still looking for one seasonal employee for mowing and two fulltime employees. Loren has conducted six interviews and is going to extend an offer yet this week. Loren talked to the ag teacher at the high school to get a couple of kids that might be interested in a part time job for the summer. Loren also stated six staff members including himself obtained an operator’s license to spray chemicals. Loren also obtained his right of way applicators license for everyone to spray under him and will be getting his mosquito applicator license next. There was some discussion on hiring the seasonal employee as a full-time employee, the committee told Loren to do what needed to be done for employees.

Miscellaneous: 6 tons of asphalt has been purchased to date, the swimming pool is ready for the opening day on May 29th, the street sweeper operated the week of May 8th including downtown street cleaning, 9 trees were removed from Peters Park to prevent damage to the playground and buildings, this will then provide some much needed additional parking. Public works was able to save $6,000 in labor by assisting with this work. Robinson completed the survey by the courthouse and Loveridge Lane for a joint effort storm sewer project, the pond pumps were installed. Loren reported well ten high service low meter failed and Peerless Midwest replaced it on May 10th.

Equipment: The new truck was ordered, and the expected build date is May 22. The asphalt roller has been picked up and the guys think its working great.

Road Work: Kingdons storm sewer project is still a work in progress and Keith thinks the pipe can be repurposed in another area of town, possibly on the Kay St Project. Keith stated he is still waiting on the survey and elevations to figure out how to fix the problem. There was a lengthy discussion on how to fix the drainage since the current pipe did not fix the problem. Keith also stated the city will be reimbursed by the Martin Ave grant for the studies that have been done so far as soon as the cities Sam status is updated, and the city is waiting on the government for that. June 8th will be the bid letting for the 8th St project by the state. The other four roads bid letting will also be done in June. Keith stated he is still waiting on the permit from the railroad for the water main project on North St.

Alderman Miller, Alderman Marcier, Building Inspector Eric Brandt and Public Works Supervisor Loren Grosvenor all met at Mary’s Emporium to look at the exterior wall that has the foam sprayed on it. They all believe it can be removed without to much trouble, Loren suggested to bring in a dumpster and put the foam in it as its removed. The store owners have provided a letter to the city giving them permission to improve the exterior wall at all costs to be paid for by the city.

There was general discussion on the following: condition of the Penney’s building and what should be done first, it was suggested to power wash, tuck point and paint and repair windows in the lower part and replace the canopy, the work done in front of the DMV looks great, Farmers Market will start June 24th and currently there are 12-15 vendors signed up, the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was discussed as this has to be renewed every 5 years and the time is approaching, Street Scape Grant that Piggush Engineering submitted was denied by 1 point and Piggush stated to reapply again in 2024, discussion about TIF extensions, annexing in some farm ground, the empty KFC building might have a buyer and the Alexander build on S 3rd St. might be selling, Donovan Park board is willing to give the park to the City as they are running out of funds, this is in the attorney’s hands on both sides, any funds left will be donated to the city park fund.

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

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/public-works-water-wastewater-5-16-23.pdf