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Letter: Stormwater fee shares responsibility, benefit
Op-Ed · April 17, 2014
Many of you may be aware the City Council is considering a new fee for stormwater in West Branch.
The proposed fee would charge $2 for all residents in single family homes and duplexes. All others would pay a graduated fee based on the amount of hard (impervious) surface on their property.
This fee would spread the financial burden of effective stormwater management across all users. The stormwater fee would be similar in nature to the water or sewer fees that property owners currently pay, and the new revenue stream could only be used for stormwater management projects.
This would include a rebate program for property owners who install new practices to reduce runoff from their property.
Whether or not to institute a new fee is obviously a difficult decision and not one that I take lightly. However, we have a strong need in West Branch to address chronic problems with flooding and poor drainage throughout town.
The projects to alleviate these problems are expensive and would be a significant drain on our General Fund. We all make use of the critical infrastructure that provides drainage and reduces flooding on Hoover Creek and Wapsi Creek, even if we ourselves are not directly affected by flooding or poor drainage.
If you have any questions or comments I invite you to contact me or my colleagues on the City Council to make sure your voice is heard.
You may reach me at Mbstevenson115@gmail.com.
Mary Beth Stevenson, City Council member
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