Cole County Files Permit Renewal on State Deadline | The Locally Times
Cole County filed its stormwater permit application on the April 1 state deadline, precluding public review before its submission to state regulators.
## County Files Application, Bypassing Local Review Cole County Public Works has initiated the renewal process for its stormwater management permit to regulate water runoff. The application seeks coverage under General Permit MOR04C, which the notice describes as the state's comprehensive permit for municipal separate storm sewer systems. These systems manage rainwater and snowmelt to prevent flooding and control pollution. As previously reported by The Locally Times, the county’s public notice was issued on the same day as the submission deadline, which prevented a period for public review of the application before it was filed. ## State Review Process Awaits Public Comment Period The DNR is now responsible for reviewing the application and managing the public feedback process. Cole County’s April 1 notice did not specify a timeline for public input. To date, the DNR has not posted a public comment or hearing notice for the county's application. According to the DNR's public notice portal, this is a standard step for such permits. For example, a public comment period for a draft air permit for Superior Industrial Solutions Inc. ran from February 6 to March 8, 2026, and a similar process for Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City ran from January 30 to March 1, 2026. ## Cost and Compliance Details Omitted from Notice Key details about the permit renewal remain undefined in public documents. The county’s notice does not outline new requirements within the MOR04C permit or how they might differ from previous obligations. Records made public do not specify the financial implications, such as potential costs for infrastructure upgrades, enhanced water quality monitoring, or new administrative duties. The county’s historical compliance record under its previous stormwater permit was also not included with the renewal notice. The DNR has not yet announced if the application has been accepted as complete or provided a timeline for its review.