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COMMUNITY NEWS
This program must be fully up and running by the end of 2007, or the city will face fines and penalties from property owners and other cities. But it doesn’t mean that the imposed fees will be welcomed with open arms by citizens. At the July 24 Fountain City Council meeting, local tax rights advocate Paul Muuss addressed council expressing concern about a possible storm water drainage fee, asking, “Why was it last month we were okay, but this month we need a storm water drainage fee assessed to each and every home owner in the City of Fountain?” Fountain Public Works Director Duane Greenwood explained, “Municipalities are being mandated by the Clean Water Act and State Storm Water Permits to manage storm water within the city.” The goal is to control the amount of contaminants being washed into the sewers every time it rains. He explained the City is required by the federal government to come into compliance, which will require additional resources and staff. The program, which includes monitoring construction activity, hazardous materials, drain connections, industrial activity, sewer systems and illegal dumping, including everything from motor oil to “any conveyances which allow any storm water discharge including sewage ... and any connection to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks.” Monitoring every possible source of contaminants in storm water will require manpower, the means to measure pollutants, transportation and other facilities. Such a program must be funded, either through the General Fund or some other revenue source. State law allows cities to establish a storm water utility program. The City has established a program, but no fee to make it go. By the end of the year, they must be in full compliance. If not, they are subject to fines, penalties and potential lawsuits from property owners and other cities in the event excessive pollutants are washed into the sewer system. Mayor Jeri Howells asked Greenwood if the fee goes to the voters as a ballot issue, and the voters reject it, how will the City pay for it? Greenwood explained the other option would be to draw from the already strained General Fund or find some other way to divert funding from some other source. Muus responded that while he is grateful for the job Council does, “When I hear that somebody has mandated that you levy a fee against the citizens of your community without any say-so, I’m skeptical that such is the case. I’m not even going to get into what a fee is as opposed to a tax. What [Greenwood] just said is disconcerting and bothersome to me at best, and at worst it borders on outrageous.” City Attorney Al Zeigler explained, “The mandate is to comply with federal requirements. How we fund [the program] is the decision of the City.” Mayor Jeri Howells added, “The door is still open. All of us are going to keep an open mind. We will be getting information out to the public on this.”
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