EPA mandates may result in city imposing stormwater fee

CHILLICOTHE – City officials are establishing long-term plans to deal with future mandates from the Environmental Protection Agency that could result in the implementation of a stormwater fee.

The city plans to look at what its needs are moving forward while establishing capital projects and associated costs before approaching the community about a proposed stormwater fee meant to help pay for those efforts. Officials say the mandates from the EPA are meant to help control stormwater runoff entering waters of the state such as ditches and creeks.

Utilities Director Richard Johnson said Tuesday the city has already tackled several steps, including the development of a stormwater management plan that already falls within a city ordinance, but Mayor Jack Everson has requested that officials look at what capital projects the city wants to take on as part of either a five-year or 10-year plan.

Everson said he specifically wants to look at what is in place now, what EPA mandates there might be and where it hopes to go in the future. However, the future work will likely result in a possible stormwater fee to be passed along to customers in the city.

City leaders have not yet established what that figure might be, but it could be anywhere from $3 to $5 per month. Officials also plan to look at how much revenue would be generated while determining its expenses as part of its assessment moving forward.

“If we do make a case, we can justify a higher number,” City Councilman Joel Fleurima said.

In addition, Johnson said he plans to review street sweeping and leaf pickup efforts in the city tied to the analysis. The money generated from the stormwater fee would be used to hire staff that would be responsible for overseeing stormwater efforts in Chillicothe, according to officials, who also plan to look at what other cities have started funding as models.

City Engineer Tom Day said among the issues are repairs to storm sewers, maintenance of a storm retention pond and development of infrastructure. Officials plan to meet at 4 p.m. June 2 in the city administration building’s first-floor conference room to discuss the issue further.