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Crest Hill holds public meeting on new MS4 stormwater requirements; no public comments
Summary
City public works director outlined steps the city must take under a new NPDES/MS4 permit issued Aug. 1, 2025, including outreach, illicit discharge detection, construction runoff controls and a new stormwater management plan to be implemented by Aug. 1, 2026. No members of the public spoke at the hearing.
The Crest Hill City Council opened and closed a public hearing March 16 to meet state requirements for the city's MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) stormwater permit.
Gary Richardson, the city's director of public works, told the council the Illinois EPA issued a new NPDES permit on Aug. 1, 2025, that adds requirements the city must implement by Aug. 1, 2026. Richardson said the city will prepare a new stormwater management plan that summarizes program components and addresses six categories: public outreach; public involvement and participation; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction-site stormwater runoff control; post-construction stormwater runoff control; and pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations.
"The city is required to have a public meeting to discuss the city's compliance efforts under the state requirements for stormwater quality," Richardson said, and he urged residents to report spills or dumping to Public Works at (815) 741-5180.
Mayor (name not specified) first moved the hearing onto the record and the council approved opening it by roll call. The mayor invited public comment three times; no one stepped to the podium to speak on the matter. After Richardson's presentation the council voted to close the public hearing at 7:11 p.m.
Richardson emphasized municipal activities such as street sweeping and sewer cleaning can improve stormwater quality, and gave examples of illicit discharges that must be addressed, including automotive fluids, yard care products and pet waste. He said certain discharges remain exempt, such as hydrant flushing and firefighting flows.
The presentation left implementation steps and timelines: the city will compile the stormwater management plan and incorporate the permit changes into operations before the Aug. 1, 2026 implementation date. No formal direction beyond closing the hearing was recorded; the council did not take additional votes or adopt a plan at the March 16 meeting.
Next steps: Public Works will prepare the new stormwater management plan and the city will submit required annual reports and, when due, a permit renewal every five years, per Richardson.
