Kankakee Times

City of Watseka Public Works/Water Wastewater Committee met May 21.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

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

ABSENT: Alderman Muench and Alderwomen Rohlfs and DeLahr

GUESTS: Resident Latoya Lee and Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor

Alderman Cahoe opened the meeting at 7:05 pm. During public comment resident Lotoya Lee from 325 W Park Ave stated the curbing and driveway at her house needs to be replaced and she has asked several times when it will be done and gets no answer. Mayor Allhands stated construction season is just starting and he is not sure of the scheduling.

Public Works Director Loren Grosvenor reported on the following projects: New Well 11: Peerless Midwest and B&D Electric completed the electrical and flow meters on 5/17/24. Metropolitan is working on getting SCADA controls updated to operate the new well.

Well 6: Loren stated it will cost 3 million to build a treatment plant for well 6 to handle the vinyl chloride. Loren thinks the EPA is getting closer to pushing the city to cap the well. There was a short discussion held on closing this well and looking at new well sites by Heritage Woods, County Farm Road and Virginia Street. Alderman Anderson makes a motion to recommend to the council to move forward with capping well 6 and Alderman Marcier seconded. Roll call carried 6-0.

Meter Reading Improvements-Radios: 1126 radios installed as of 5/21/24 North Street Watermain Extension under the Railroad: Loren stated there’s a leak there, it was surfacing and now its not, he is going to move forward with pot holing to find the leak and get it repaired. Loren is also looking at putting meters on city owned buildings to determine water usage/loss.

Lead Service Line Inventory Grant: So far there are 4 confirmed lead services in the city, the project is still on going

Watermain Breaks: 531 N 2nd a 4” break on 5/2/2024 and 114 E North a 1” water tap leak on 5/13/2024

Wastewater Treatment Plant: R.A.S. 20hp pump 2 failed and Wilo warranted the pump, and the ship date was May 1st. 10hp new effluent pump was installed 5/6/2024. Non potable pump failed, and Loren is working on getting it warrantied.

Sanitary & Storm Sewers: Locust/Brown Street manhole project railroad permit should be done by the end of May. This project will now be boring/casing under the railroad and will cost about $765,000.

Kay Street Storm & Sanitary Separation Project: on hold till June

Sewer Lateral installed: this was done at 220 W Park Ave and it’s the only house on the line

Peters Park Tennis Courts: the led lighting is scheduled for installation on 5/20/2024, the downhill led lighting has been completed.

Ponds: the fish have been delivered, pond pumps are installed, and the ponds have received the 2nd treatment. Loren is going to work on getting his aquatic license this summer

Streets: Project was approved in March and the contractor has been notified and now we are waiting on bonds and insurance.

Martin Ave Extension: Bid letting is 5/23/2024. This is a 2.6 million project with an additional $140,000 added in brings it closer to 3.1 million, Loren stated some costs could be removed to lower the cost. The grant is for 2.35 million.

Street Sweeper: operating the week of 5/20/2024

Spray Patch Machine: operating to fill potholes

Staffing: currently down 5 employees, one out on work comp, on taking FMLA, 3 high school students helping with yard waste facility and will mow in the summer, also have 1 college intern for the summer helping with mowing. At one time with previous directors there was a total of 15 employees. Loren stated the city is mowing about 100 lots, city parks and city buildings. Loren has talked to Express Employment to see about getting more employees. Express Employment will cover all benefits, including work comp. For an employee that is hired at $17/ hour it would cost the city $23.64 per hour, the employee would be with Express Employment for 3 months and at the time the city could choose to hire them. This will be on the agenda for next month.

Miscellaneous: the vacant lot uptown is almost completed. Still waiting for the fence company to put in the security fence. Mayor Allhands asks the committee if they are ok with naming that area the Ted Horner Community Park by putting up a plaque or sign. A sign has been found and the cost would be $118. Alderman Miller makes a motion to name the lot the Ted Horner Community Park and purchase a plaque for $118.00. Alderman Anderson seconded. Roll call carried 6-0. It was stated a lot of the work and materials done in the lot has been donated. The new banners have been installed on the downtown light posts.

Loren stated the city has applied for an OSLAD grant and at some point, a public hearing will need to happen. This grant would be for a possible splash pad at Lakeview Park, a pickleball court and a sand volleyball court and a possible amphitheater. The pickleball court could be built where the ice-skating area is and public works could do the work for the sand volleyball court. There was a short discussion about the other lots in the downtown area that the city owns and about the exposed wall with the staircase on it, getting it painted and tuck pointed.

Loren stated he has met with IPC at Herron Ct about the storm inlet on the west end. Lore also stated he has a proposal from Robinson Engineering for $8700 to help with the NPDES permit renewal -CSO plan that is required through IEPA. Alderman Miller makes a motion to recommend to the Council to accept the proposal from Robinson Engineering for $8700 to help with the NPDES permit renewal process. Alderman Marcier seconded. Roll call carried 6-0.

Loren reported he is still working on the turn lane at 2nd & Walnut. A traffic count needs to be done and Robinson is doing that for a cost of $1755. Loren is also waiting on IDOT approval for the set back turn lanes.

There was a quick discussion on water main projects.

Alderman Cahoe makes a motion to adjourn at 8:30 pm and Alderman Barragree seconded. Roll call carried 6-0.

https://www.watsekacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/public-works-water-wastewater-meeting-5-21-24.pdf