It sounded like a good idea and all agreed much work is needed when it comes to storm water management issues – but now might not be the time. That was the gist of the matter on Tuesday when Roanoke City Council voted 7-0 to table a vote on an ordinance to set storm water management fees that would affect both residential properties and city businesses.
About a dozen residents and civic leaders came forward to express reservations about the additional cost to citizens and businesses.
City Engineer Phil Schirmer spoke to the group, saying the proposed fee would cost residents $3 a month ($36 per year), while the average business would be charged a fee of about $33 per month.
He called Roanoke “one of the most flood threatened communities in Virginia.” Schirmer said the city has about 60 million dollars in storm water projects on the drawing board. “It will take us decades to correct the problem,” he warned. Schirmer said other localities around the state have imposed fees on homes and businesses to help mitigate storm water problems and improve water quality; he claimed the fees proposed here are lower than those found elsewhere.
Since the fee amount is based on the size of impervious surfaces (e.g. parking lots) owned by a business, a handful of larger concerns – like Roanoke Regional Airport – could be looking at annual fees well into the thousands of dollars. “Bring us to the table and talk to us,” said airport commission chair Jay Turner, who spoke about an annual storm water fee that could amount to $200,000 annually for the airport, based on his calculations. Turner said the Airport Commission was caught by surprise concerning the proposed storm water fees.
Several council members and speakers felt the need for storm water management should be looked at regionally, rather than having Roanoke City shoulder the load. “Are we the only ones doing this?” asked Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers.
Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce president Joyce Waugh said the city would be “at a competitive disadvantage” if it imposed fees on businesses while other localities did not.
City Council candidate Robert Craig, who announced his candidacy on Monday, claimed that Roanoke “has neglected the storm drain system for 30 years.” Looming in the background are state and federal mandates concerning storm water management and water quality; Schirmer said other localities in the state have been fined for not meeting standards that are getting tougher all the time.
“I think we have a lot more work to do,” said council member David Trinkle before the 7-0 vote to table any ordinance on storm water fees for now.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]