New fee proposed for Auburn property owners

Impervious surface is any structure or material placed on top of the ground that causes rainwater to pool and run off, sometimes transporting pollutants into nearby streams.

Lucas said the projected annual revenue from the new utility fee would be about $153,800.

The money would be used for drainage ditch improvements, culvert improvements and other projects to control the flow of storm water and to minimize the damage it can cause, he said.

The city’s proposed fee is almost twice what county residents pay. The county’s stormwater rates are $18 annually for residential properties and $18 for each 3,478 square feet of impervious surface on commercial properties.

However, Mayor Linda Blechinger told the Barrow Journal that the city’s proposed fee structure is based on two years of research that included documenting the status of the city’s existing system and determining specific projects needed to start bringing the system up to state standards.

“I think it is critical to understand that the city will use the storm water utility fee for storm water issues only, and, in fact, the total amount will not completely cover the cost of running the utility,” she said. “Public Works (personnel) will do most of the repair work for small- to medium-sized jobs.”

A public hearing about the new fee is scheduled for Aug. 9 at the city council's meeting room adjacent to the Auburn Police Department.