Our speaker this week was Mark Bushnell, City Engineer for Sycamore. Mark provided an overview of his department and its projects, both recently completed and upcoming.
The City's Engineering department has three main tasks:
- Infrastructure Design and Implementation - Create and implement 5-year programs for roads, water and sewer; then determine funding and make adjustments.
- Development and Utility Permit Reviews - Determine how development will impact existing infrastructure of City and surrounding area; review and process commercial utility permits.
- Regulatory Requirements - Responsible for completing annual environmental reporting to the IEPA for stormwater; provide floodplain information and assistance.
The City has 110 miles of streets to maintain, as well as an agreement with the State of Illinois to complete minor repairs on Routes 23 and 64. Repairs and maintenance are funded by Motor Fuel Tax ($0.47/gallon), City Fuel Tax ($0.02/gallon), sales tax, video gaming, and outside funding. In 2023, Sycamore coordinated with DeKalb, Cortland, and DeKalb County to use federal funding to establish a PASER heat map for the City. The Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) details the state of City streets and "hot spots" in need of attention. Mark's goal is to fix all roads in "poor" condition" within the 5-year program.
During 2024, the City installed new pavement on the following streets:
- Mediterranean Drive
- Brickville Road/Freed Road
- Perry Court
- Meadow Lane
- Bill Johnson Boulevard
- Somonauk Street (completed using state transportation funds)
For 2025, the City plans to install new pavement at these locations:
- Home Street
- Heron Creek Drive
- Governor Street
- Walnut Street (Alley)
- Maplewood Drive (if sufficient funding is available)
- Walnut Street (if sufficient funding is available)
- Midlands Court (if sufficient funding is available)
- Sycamore Creek/Camden Crossings subdivisions (if sufficient funding is available)
In January 2020, the City applied for funding to better address the sanitary sewer system. Funding was finally secured in early 2022 and over 253,000 of pipe was inspected in 2022 and 2023. Mark's team completed 471 lead water services at a cost of over $4.9M. Their next project will involve taking a new main from Upstaging north on Park, heading east on Chauncey, and then north on Locust and Main. This project will connect larger diameter watermains with the intention of improving circulation in the system.
The main system currently involves 115 miles of pipe, nearly 1,500 hydrants, five wells, and two elevated storage tanks.
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