City of Vandalia will look to get grant money for a water line project in an area of town currently experiencing water quality issues

The City of Vandalia will look to get grant money for a water line project in an area of town currently experiencing water quality issues.

During Wednesday’s Vandalia City Council meeting, Engineer Lee Beckman was presenting his month’s report and began to discuss the 2025 Grant Application to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.  It was expected the City of Vandalia would apply for DCEO funding of up to $1 million for watermain replacement on Randolph Street, which has been an area plagued with water leak issues.  But, Beckman said there was consideration to change and possibly look at an area off-of and north of Randolph Street, in areas such as North Locust Street, Shelly Drive, Morning Glory Drive, Thistle Drive and other neighboring areas that are currently experiencing water quality issues.  There was some discussion and hope that the current chlorine burn being performed by the City’s Water Treatment Plant might help with the problem of discolored water.  But, Alderman Andy Lester asked City Public Works Director James Jackson his thoughts on the matter.  And, Jackson felt they should look to fix the water quality issue first.

And, Alderman Bret Brosman agreed with Jackson.

The issue could be, however, that even if the City of Vandalia gets the DCEO grant it could be into 2027 before they can move forward.  Mayor Doug Knebel asked Beckman for a timeline.

Beckman said they will need to show a threat to health and safety and the discolored water issues along with leaks in the area would help with that.  The City Council did formally move to go forward with attempting to get the grant for the area dealing with water quality issues and put the Randolph Street project off until later.