Cole County Files Stormwater Permit Notice on Deadline | The Locally Times
The county issued a public notice for its stormwater permit renewal on the April 1 state deadline, precluding public review before submission.
Cole County’s process for renewing a critical environmental permit is facing scrutiny after public records show the county announced its intent to file the application on the same day it was due, leaving no window for public review before the deadline. The document specified the application would be filed by the April 1, 2026, deadline. The renewal seeks coverage under the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) General Permit MOR04C, which the notice identified as a comprehensive permit for the county’s storm sewer systems. These systems are the networks of drains, pipes, and ditches that collect and transport rainwater and snowmelt from streets and properties to local waterways. Compliance with this state-level permit governs how the county manages stormwater runoff, a key factor in local water quality and flood prevention. The April 1 notice included a link for more information, but public records do not specify what was provided or confirm if the application was successfully submitted. The timing of the notice effectively precluded any public comment on the application’s contents before its submission to the state. ## Permit Renewal Absent from Public Agendas A review of publicly available records reveals no evidence of prior public discussion or official action regarding the permit renewal in the weeks leading up to the deadline. Agendas and meeting minutes posted for the Cole County Commission, County Clerk, Collector, and Treasurer for meetings on February 17, February 19, February 24, and February 26, 2026, contain no agenda items related to the MOR04C permit. The absence of the permit renewal from these official records indicates the matter was not addressed in open, public meetings of the county’s primary governing bodies during this period, leaving the timeline for the county’s decision-making process unclear. ## State Process Offers Contrast The handling of Cole County’s permit notice differs from other environmental permit processes overseen by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. During the same period, DNR records show the agency managed multi-week public comment periods for other permits. For example, a notice for a draft operating permit for Superior Industrial Solutions Inc. shows a public comment period running from February 6, 2026, to March 8, 2026, a total of 31 days. Another DNR notice for Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City lists a comment period from January 30, 2026, to March 1, 2026, also 31 days. While these were for different types of air pollution permits, they demonstrate a standard procedure that allows for public input over several weeks. Whether Cole County’s application for the comprehensive stormwater permit will be subject to a future public comment period managed by the DNR is not specified in the available records. Available records also do not confirm if the county met its deadline or what its stormwater management plan contains.