Jasper moves up Lions Park storm sewer repair, reviews stormwater plans

Sinkholes and a sinking fence pushed Jasper to move the Lions Park storm sewer repair to the top of its list, City Engineer Chad Hurm told the Stormwater Management Board. The large metal line under the park had been slated for later work, but visible deterioration brought the project forward. The repair matters because the pipe sits beneath a public space where drainage problems can quickly turn into safety and flooding concerns.

The board met Monday morning in Council Chambers, where Jasper’s stormwater program also reviewed its broader responsibility for both construction oversight and long-term drainage maintenance. The department manages IDEM’s Construction Stormwater General Permit and MS4 General Permit, and its work includes public education and outreach, public participation, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction-site runoff control, pollution prevention and good housekeeping, and post-construction controls.

The June report showed five open permitted sites, not counting sites under an acre, and said May brought 4.33 inches of rain across three events. Officials also said the city’s IDEM audit was scheduled for Aug. 19, a reminder that the local stormwater system is being watched not just for how it handles water, but for how well it follows state requirements.

Compliance has already had consequences at active projects around town. In April, the board approved 11 ERUs and issued a violation fine and work stoppage at 36th and Mill Street after construction started without the proper permits and basin installation. The same broader enforcement work has involved sites such as North Ridge Estates, Archangel Addition, Jasper Substation 36 and Jasper High School, where drainage and permitting issues can turn into delays if the rules are not followed.

The department has paired that enforcement with public outreach. In May, staff took stormwater education to Earth Day at the hospital, a Jasper Middle School science event and Jasper High School Field Day presentations. Jasper’s stormwater division also asks residents to report possible illicit discharges to the stormwater coordinator, part of a system built to catch problems before they spread into ditches, creeks and neighborhood yards.

The urgency behind that work is rooted in recent weather. In July 2024, officials said a storm produced about 3.7 inches of rain at the wastewater plant gauge, while some parts of Jasper likely got much more, causing flash flooding in streets, intersections and basements. Hurm said city infrastructure is generally designed for 25-year or 50-year rain events, which is why the Lions Park repair, the permit checks and the public education effort now sit in the same municipal conversation.