Cross Plains board approves 2025 MS4 stormwater permit

The Village of Cross Plains Board of Trustees on March 10 approved the village’s 2025 MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer) permit, adopting the stormwater management plan and continuing participation in regional compliance activities.

Marty (staff member) gave trustees a summary of MS4 requirements, saying that because Cross Plains drains to nearby waters such as Black Earth Creek the village must maintain a stormwater management plan that addresses six minimum control measures, including public education, public involvement, illicit-discharge detection and elimination, construction-site runoff controls, post-construction stormwater management and pollution prevention. Marty said membership in MAMSWAP (Madison Area Metropolitan Stormwater Partnership) helps the village meet public education and outreach requirements.

Trustees discussed the routine tasks tied to the permit — inspection and cleaning of catch basins and maintenance of ponds and private best-management practices (BMPs) required by development agreements — and then approved the permit by voice vote.

The permit requires the village to track and submit annual reports documenting inspections, maintenance and pollution-prevention activities; Marty said these reports are submitted each year and that the village is currently meeting its obligations.

The board’s action was a voice vote with aye responses recorded; the meeting record did not show a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The MS4 permit is an annual compliance requirement tied to state and federal stormwater rules, and the village will continue routine maintenance and reporting to meet the permit’s control-measure requirements.