Kenosha water board approves lot use by 5 Star Energy to stage lead service-line work

The Kenosha Board of Water Commissioners voted May 14 to approve a property use agreement between the Kenosha Water Utility and 5 Star Energy Services LLC to allow contractor staging and storage on a vacant utility-owned lot near the former Shopko site to support lead service line replacements.

Board staff said the lot — roughly at the northwest corner of 50th Street and 52nd Avenue — had previously been used for waste disposal and was considered in the past as a potential pumping location. "It's much more convenient for the residents as well as for the contractor to use that site so they're not trying to store materials and equipment within the public right of way," a staff member told the board when presenting the agreement, adding that staff recommends approval and would revoke the arrangement if it created operational problems.

The staff presentation described the parcel as close to the utility's interceptor main and noted it was acquired decades ago; planners once considered it for a permanent pumping station during high Lake Michigan levels but later used a different parcel. The agreement is intended to keep equipment off public rights of way and provide a dedicated location for staging replacement work.

A commissioner moved to approve the agreement and the motion was seconded; the board voted in favor by voice vote with the chair also voting aye. The board did not attach additional conditions at the meeting beyond staff's stated ability to end the property use if negative impacts occur.

The vote clears the way for 5 Star Energy to use the site for the current round of lead service line replacements. The board did not set a public timeline for use or provide a detailed operational plan during the meeting; staff indicated future operational details would be managed administratively.