Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Works/Water-Wastewater Committee met Aug. 15.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Cahoe, Barragree, Marcier, Anderson, Muench, Miller, Alderwomen Rohlfs, and Musk and Mayor Allhands

GUESTS: Resident Roger Bard, Public Works Supervisor Loren Grosvenor, Keith Mullholland with Robinson Engineering

Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 6:40 pm. During public comment resident Roger Bard spoke about the drainage project at the county/Grant St./ Loveridge Lane. He stated he sent a letter to all the alderpersons expressing his thoughts. He went the to county management meeting and they are going to put the project out for bid. He went on to say if the alderpersons were to ask their constituents, they will all find out no one is in favor of this project.

Public Works Supervisor reported on the following projects:

Road Repairs: 15 tons of asphalts for pot holes and patching

Water Main: Main break on E Mulberry on a line that should have been abandoned, its isolated now, Main break on Market St. this is the 2nd in 1.5 years and the city needs to really look at the underground infrastructure in this area. The current main is a 4 inch. 

Storm Sewer Yount/Park Ave: the piping has been installed

Traffic Lights Downtown: Outsen was in town today working on the punch list, the cameras are now working

Street Sweeper: ran last week including the downtown area

Oak St. Water Tower: the inspection is now done, there are 2 pumps at the wastewater treatment plant that are being rebuilt.

Well 11: Still waiting on paperwork from the IEPA, Peerless Midwest is ready to go as soon as all the permitting is taken care of. The piping will run behind city hall after an easement is gotten from Bob Tincher.

Locates: 73 locates in 30 days

Miscellaneous: A new 2 inch water line was installed at a business and the current well they were using will be capped, the high school summer help is now done for the summer, Knapp Funeral Home on S 4th St. the wall along the sidewalk has separated and is a hazard so it needs to be replaced or removed. Loren has talked to the owners and they are ok with removing the wall, when this happens the fire hydrant will need to be lowered.

Mulberry St. Resurfacing Program: Bids were opened with IPC being the lone bidder. The bid came in at $320,277.43 with the engineering estimate at $320,390.00. Alderman Anderson makes a motion to accept the bid from IPC for $320,390.00 for the Mulberry St resurfacing and Alderman Miller seconded. Roll call carried 9-0. 

8th St Project: a preconstruction meeting will be held with IDOT next week. Keith stated the state will be paying the extra funds.

North St Water Main: still waiting on rail pros

Locust St Sanitary Sewer: This should be completed by September 15th. 

Well 6: Keith stated still a work in progress as waiting on an answer from IEPA about the air stripper

Martin Ave: Still a work in progress and there were no final comments from the public. 

County Drainage Project: Keith stated the county is going to put this out for bid

There was a short discussion about the drainage project issue behind Kingdons, and again about the barrel on Jackson Ave. Loren stated that barrel on Jackson he has done some work on it and there is a tap that is taking on water/dirt and he believes that pipe is going to need to be lined.

Mayor Allhands stated the city has not made any offers Lakeview Senior Housing Complex, but he stated there have been 4 developers that were looking at that property and 2 have dropped off but 2 are still interested. As of now the property has gone back to the Illinois Housing Authority. It will not be section 8 housing.

Mayor Allhands also stated there will be a public meeting August 24th at 5:30 with Neill Pigguish to finish out the Street Scape Grant.

Mayor Allhands reported KCC is ok with the TIF extension but he has not heard back yet from Unit 9 or the Park District.

Alderman Anderson stated he has talked to someone at Berkots and their current lease is up March of 2024 and he would like for the city to be able to help them out somehow.

Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to adjourn at 8:25 pm and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 9-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/public-works-water-wastewater-8-15-23.pdf