Auburn considers stormwater utility fee

The stormwater management program is designed to maintain public safety, replace and repair aging infrastructure, restore stream functionality and insure compliance with state and federal regulations.

To date, Auburn’s stormwater management program has been funded through the city’s general fund.

Stormwater Coordinator Iris Slaton said the goal is to implement a stormwater utility fee by September 2010.

A stormwater utility fee would be based on a system similar to other public utilities. Costs would be assigned based on the amount of impervious surface on each lot.

The current recommendation calls for a fee of $36 a year per each equivalent residential unit (ERU). The proposed ERU is an impervious area of 3,478 square feet.

If the fee is approved, it would most likely be billed as part of the ad valorem tax, Slaton said.

Slaton said the fee is necessary to cover the increasing costs of maintaining the city’s stormwater management system. Maintenance of ponds, ditches and failing infrastructure are just some of the issues being addressed.

Public Works Director David Hawthorne said there are several areas in the city that are problematic.

“This is going to have to be an on-going program,” he said. “Even in a moderate rain, we have a drainage problem.”

Mayor Linda Blechinger said state and federal regulations result in unfunded mandates whose costs must be covered.

“EPD regulations are going to be coming down every year,” Blechinger said. “We’ll have more and more.”

Blechinger praised the public works department for working to evaluate the actual costs of the stormwater management program and devising a way to cover those costs.

In other business, the Auburn City Council:

• approved 3-1 a change to the personnel manual to allow city employees the option to donate sick, vacation or compensatory time to other city employees through a time bank. Employees will be allowed to donate up to five days per calendar year. Employees who have exhausted all their leave could withdraw up to 20 days from the bank upon departmental head approval. The program is voluntary. Dorissa Shackleford was the lone dissenting vote.

• discussed the 2009 millage rates. City Clerk Rafael Avalos recommended keeping the Barrow millage rate at 4.931 and the Gwinnett rate at 4.796.

• reviewed a proposal to replace improperly installed asphalt on Oak Leaf Court. Public Works Director David Hawthorne recommended council award the contract to Cecil Key Paving, Inc. The project is expected to cost $29,455.

• discussed a request from City Administrator Ron Griffith to add a part-time staff position of administrative assistant for the city administrator. Griffith said an assistant is needed to handle secretarial and clerical duties that he is now required to handle. Griffith said the additional position will give him more time to research and apply for grants.