KOKOMO, Ind. -- The City of Kokomo has paid $29,700 in civil penalties to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for violations associated with three different city projects.
On February 8, IDEM reached three separate agreed orders with the City of Kokomo related to the Kokomo Baseball Stadium Project, Cotswold Hills Sanitary Sewer Project, and Park Avenue Wildcat Creek Floodplain Enhancement Project.
IDEM cited for 20 violations total, including failure to implement plans aimed at erosion and sediment control, failure to maintain required records at the site, failure to submit written self-monitoring reports, and unsatisfactory erosion and sediment control measures.
The order related to the sewer project noted inspectors observed “drilling mud associated with activities at the site being directly into Wildcat Creek.”
In documents associated with the Kokomo Baseball Stadium project, the state noted the city of Kokomo “failed to keep public or private roadways cleared of accumulated sediment that is a result of run-off or tracking.”
Dr. Indra Frank, Water Policy Director for the Hoosier Environmental Council, said when soil runs off of the land, it’s a problem.
“First, we’re losing potentially productive soil,” said Frank. “Secondly, when soil runs into our waterways and causes what causes sediment. Sediment is the most common cause of damage to aquatic habitats.”
Frank said sediment damages plants and animals that live in our rivers.
“And third, sediment can interfere with the drinking water processes if there’s drinking water that’s pulled from that river downstream,” said Frank.
Frank also said proper planning is crucial during construction.
“For construction sites, there need to be plans in place before the construction starts. So that as soil gets disturbed at a construction site, they know how they’re going to prevent runoff of that soil into the waterways,” said Frank.
A spokesperson for the City of Kokomo said they are still waiting for more information from IDEM before commenting further on the violations and penalties.
Courtney Arango, IDEM spokesperson, told Call 6 Investigates they have already received three checks from the City of Kokomo totaling $29,700.
ORDERS:
- 80218506 – adopted AO for Case 23011 – Baseball stadium (5 violations)
- 80218490 – adopted AO for case 23013 – Wildcat Creek FEP (5 violations)
- 80218482 – adopted AO for case 22961- Cotswold Hills (10 violations)
In 2014, Call 6 Investigates Kara Kenney broke the story that the Kokomo Baseball Stadium was built in a flood-prone area that is supposed to be kept as green, open space, per a federal grant agreement.
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