Washington Mayor Joe Wellman has issued a written press release on drainage fees, and Washington’s drainage problems.
In 2004, the State mandated that the City create a Storm Water Utility, but did not provide funding. The City initially established a flat $3.00 per month, per customer, rate. This brings in $162,000 per year. However, engineering studies show that Washington needs more than $1.8 million to install, repair, and maintain drainage sewers and waterways over the next several years. The City is facing a need for a rate increase but the Mayor and City Council want the increase to be as fair and equitable as possible. Mayor Wellman says the fairest way is to charge a fee based on how much water run-off each piece of property generates. The more roof tops, driveways, and gravel or paved parking lots on a property, the more water runs off since it cannot soak into the bare ground.
The City Council will be taking up the drainage fee in the near future. There will be a public hearing on any ordinance that comes before the Council.
Here is the the Mayor’s Press Release in it’s entirety….
STORM-WATER-UTILITY-News-Release-101018