Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Works/Water Wastewater Committee met Feb. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

PRESENT: Aldermen Cahoe, Marcier, Barragree, Muench, Miller, Anderson, Mayor Allhands

ABSENT: Alderwomen Rohlfs, and DeLahr

GUESTS: Keith Mulholland with Robinson Engineering, Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 6:50 pm. There was no public comment.

Keith Mulholland with Robinson Engineering held a short public hearing regarding the spray patch machine that the city is purchasing and trying to get a grant for. There were no questions.

Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor reported on the following projects: New Well #11: transmission watermain, valves, hydrant and flowmeter structure and electrical conduit expected to be completed by 2-22-24. Loren stated Peerless and B&D should be here yet this week to do their portion and hopefully by the end of March the well should be in service. Loren stated if the city had to outsource the work it would have cost about $300,000 or more and with public works crews doing the work the cost is about $75,000 Well 6: Nothing new to report

Meter Reading Improvements-Radios: 200 more radios were ordered and 100 were received 1/9/24

Fire Hydrants: Hydrant on Brown and Park has been rebuilt and a leak has been discovered on connection to the hydrant. This is scheduled for excavation.

North Street Watermain Extension under Railroad: project is completed minus the asphalt and concrete repairs

Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Approved: The city has received $80,000 from a grant. Robinson will be sending out a 2ndsurvey to residents as the first one didn’t get a very good response. Alderman Anderson asked about a press release for this project and Mayor Allhands stated he gave a press release to Carla to put in the paper.

Grant for Watermain Extension on Elm St: no funding at this time

Watermain Breaks: 220 N 5th :1/15/24, 702 N Market:1/9/2024, 819 W Iroquois : 1/7/24, 811 N Chicago: 1/5/24, North St and Market intersection 12/21/23

Water Main Projects Discussion: there was discussion about continuing on with 12 inch water main from North St to Jefferson, after lengthy discussion the committee instructed Keith to start preliminary engineering for this, it was stated it will be about 2000 feet of 12 inch main. There was discussion about the Elm St water main up to 8th St. Keith stated they are still waiting on a possible grant for this, discussion was also had from 8th St to 4th St water main extension, preliminary engineering will be started for this project also, and there was discussion of water main extension from Jefferson St. south to Route 24 intersection and from there to the river.

Wastewater Treatment Plant: Wilo replaced and city installed R.A.S. 20hp pump on 2/13/24, R.A.S. 20hp pump 2 failed and Wilo will be warranting the pump, contract tank rake arm gear box was broken, this is from 1998 and the replacement has been ordered for a cost of $1600

Drainage project along Walnut: still delayed due to TPW ROE permitting Locust/Brown St Manhole project: still work in progress

Kay St. Storm and Sanitary Separation project: letting is expected soon. 48” Storm Sewer Repair/Removal behind Kingdons Apartments: New 72” structure and 48” pipe installed, waiting for dry ground conditions to install 2 36” structures GIS Mapping: work in progress-collecting data as time allows

Parks: Working on a grant from Ameren to improve lighting to LED lights for baseball diamonds and tennis courts

Streets: MFT heat and recycle project expected letting by end of the month, Keith stated this will be put in the IDOT bulleting next week.

Martin Ave Extension: letting by end of the month, Keith stated at the current time the right of way is 60 feet but 66 is now the standard, and the standard width for a street is 30 feet but those streets are 32 feet wide so they will stay with the 32 feet per our city ordinance, IDOT: is working on replacing the west junction mast arms for traffic lights. Staffing: one employee hired February 12th, currently down 3 employees and one on work comp. Loren stated he really needs skilled laborers

Miscellaneous: SCADA at lift stations and Oak St and Westside Water Towers equipment has been ordered and waiting on installation

Marketing Agreement-Water-Sewer Lines Insurance: Loren reported this is something that could be offered to the residents from Utility Service Partners Private Label Inc. This insurance is something that could be used for ownership of water lines and sewer laterals. This would be for water lines up to the curb stop and sewer from the house to the main including the tap. If a sewer lateral is shared with the neighbor they will only do 1 section, they won’t go pass the y. This company hires local plumbers to do the work. Water service line plan is $5.99 per month, Sewer line plan is $10.99 per month. Loren stated there is a blanket coverage for $9.33 per connection that this city could do and this could be billed to each resident. The committee had some discussion on this and it will be talked about more next month. Equipment: Loren has given everyone quotes for a wheel loader to replace the existing 2007 Volvo, he had quotes from Cat for a 926 Wheel Loader, 930 Wheel Loader, 938 Wheel loader, from Alta Equipment, and from Martin Equipment. Loren stated he would prefer the 926 Wheel loader for the type of work that they would use it for. Cat will give the city $50,000 for the Volvo that has 7000 hours on it. After more discussion Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to recommend to the Council to purchase the Cat 926 Wheel Loader for a cost of $185,930 and to pay equally from Tif 3, Tif 4, Water/Sewer and Garbage funds. Alderman Anderson seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

Spray Patch Machine: This will be delivered 2/21/24.

Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to adjourn at 7:52 pm and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 7-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/public-works-water-wastewater-2-20-24.pdf