Manitowoc, Wis.’s Common Council earlier this week voted 9-0 to direct the city's finance director to explore options for creating a storm water utility.
Finance Director Brian Ruechel will make a presentation with his findings no later than May 1, to the Public Utilities and Licensing Committee, according to a report in the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter.
Proposed creation of a storm water utility caused infighting among aldermen in December, when a utility was part of Mayor Kevin Crawford's annual budget. The measure was rejected because final costs to taxpayers were not available. Those costs, which are being computed by Earth Tech of Sheboygan, are expected this spring.
Earth Tech is expected to make a presentation to the Public Utilities and Licensing Committee on March 20.
Services like street sweeping, brush pickup and storm sewer maintenance are paid for through property taxes. The creation of a storm water utility would change the way such services are paid for.
Cost would be based on the amount of permeable property surfaces. Businesses with large parking lots would likely pay more than they do through taxes. Tax-exempt organizations also would be required to pay the monthly fees. The cost to homeowners is not expected to exceed $6 per month, according to City Engineer Bill Handlos.
The city is required by state and federal mandates to improve the quality of its storm water runoff. The mandate stems from the Clean Water Act of 1972, which focused on wastewater. In the 1990s, however, the focus shifted to storm water runoff because it can directly pollute waterways.
City officials say they need to consider funding options other than property taxes to help pay for stringent testing and other measures needed to meet state and federal requirements.
Source: HTR
