City staff told the Carl Junction Board of Aldermen that a Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) MS4 audit found the city’s documentation lacking in several areas, and staff are preparing corrective materials for submission by the end of the month.

According to staff, auditors identified deficiencies in educational training documentation and said the city’s inspection form—acceptable in 2018—did not meet current expectations. Staff reported they have developed new inspection forms and distributed educational materials to employees. Staff also said the city’s engineers will need to update mapping related to MS4 requirements.

“We've got a new inspection form set up. I've got the educational material plan. I've already got material out to the employees,” a staff member said. Staff added that they are drafting the response to the DNR and expect to submit it within the agency’s normal audit process; the DNR’s approach is described as educational rather than punitive in most cases.

When asked, staff said the city had not been assessed fines and that the DNR generally offers guidance and time to correct documentation rather than immediate penalties. Staff said they had found a public hearing record for the MS4 permit adoption after the audit and were able to supply it to auditors.

The board asked whether the deadline to respond was feasible; staff told aldermen the deadline is the end of the month and that meeting the timeline is doable. The city will follow up with the DNR and report back to the board as required.