Utility staff say MS4 report filed; Stone Street generator tested and Garr Creek repairs near completion

Kankakee City environmental services staff told the Environmental Services Utility Board that the city’s MS4 annual report was completed and submitted to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and that ongoing repairs at key sewer facilities are progressing.

The MS4 annual report — the city’s statement on stormwater control measures — is due each year on June 1 to the Illinois EPA, and staff said they had the report finished in time. That matters because the MS4 program documents the city’s six basic minimum control measures for stormwater and is a recurring regulatory requirement.

Board member Zachary (Zach) summarized recent sewer operations and maintenance work, saying the month has returned closer to historical norms after heavy sewer calls tied to snowmelt and rain. Zach also reported work at Stone Street: automatic transfer control switches have been installed, enabling staff to run a generator under load for the first time. "We were able to do a load bank test, on the generator out there. So that's the first one that we've ever ran or first time we've ever been able to run that generator under load. And, tested at 90% for 4 hours," he said. The successful test lets staff schedule more regular testing going forward.

Laboratory manager Brian McGinnis and Zach both described a recent industrial upset that raised hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels in wastewater. McGinnis said an industry had ‘‘high levels of H2S’’ after a manager was absent and the facility under-dosed treatment chemicals; staff described the industry re-dosing at higher levels to return conditions to normal. McGinnis said the lab has experienced only minor equipment issues covered by an annual maintenance contract and is monitoring industrial contributors, including ongoing work in Manteno to reduce fats, oils and greases.

Zach told the board that Garr Creek lift station work has been slow because of parts procurement but that crews have been replacing piping and pumps; "we're almost there," he said. Staff said one bypass pump had been used while parts arrived. The updates reflected operational maintenance rather than new policy decisions.

Board members asked whether sewer cleaning and televising schedules — including a more frequent schedule for Osborne Street — remain in effect; staff confirmed those lines will be on a more frequent cleaning cycle. No formal board action or vote was taken on these maintenance items; they were reported as part of the monthly operations update.

Staff identified the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) MS4 filing requirement and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as authorities relevant to buoying and dam operations discussed elsewhere in the meeting. Funding or budget changes tied to these operations were not proposed during the report and were not decided at the meeting.