Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home City Council will continue discussions about the creation of a storm drainage utility and an estimated monthly residential charge of $4 during a work session on Aug. 28.
Paul Matthews of Red Oak Consulting, on Aug. 14, presented to the council the results of a series of committee meetings to develop a recommendation for creating the storm drainage utility.
A storm water utility would be used to pay for operation and maintenance of the city’s drainage system along with capital improvements, Public Works Director Mike Adams said. As the city grows it will be required by the federal and state governments to treat storm water.
The utility formation study provided by Matthews mapped out a possible five-year budget plan.
In the first year of the plan, beginning on July 1, 2008, the city would spend $295,000 and require $194,000 from ratepayers for operation and maintenance of the city’s drainage system and $284,000 in capital improvements.
Money already budgeted to the utility, money also used to pay for the study, would be included in the budget plan.
The study estimates a cost for residents of $4 per month per “equivalent dwelling unit (EDU),” approximately 3,200 square feet of impervious surface.
Most homes will not have more than one EDU, Adams said, and the rate is still subject to debate.
The study shows what that $4 per month will be able to cover, Adams said, and it isn’t a lot.
Other proposed user fees include small commercial at $7 per month, medium commercial at $12 per month and large commercial at $68 per month.
By 2012, the cost for operation and maintenance is proposed at $261,000 with $236,000 needed from ratepayers. Proposed rates at that time would be $4.78 per month for residents, $8.36 for small commercial, $14.33 for medium commercial and $81.19 for large commercial.
Capital improvement projects are outlined for the first three years of the utility, with a cost of $163,000 in 2009 and $217,400 in 2010.
The recommendation bases the rates on the amount of impervious surface each property has, Adams said. The committee recommended no exemptions to the rate and also did not include a senior or low-income discount, although such a discount should be under further discussion.
The next meeting, a work session, will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 28 in the Sweet Home Police Department training room, and it will give the community the opportunity to take a look at the proposal, Adams said. The city also will have an example of an ordinance to create the utility.
The council cannot take action on the utility during a work session. During the work session, the council can receive information from staff and consultants, and it also may choose to receive input from citizens.
Adams said he has no date in mind for taking the proposal to a regular council meeting, where the council can take action on the utility.
When and whether to bring the utility to council for action will be a council-driven decision, he said.