What are the issues involving Stormwater? Surface Water Program
Pollution: Every time it rains, the rainwater that is not absorbed into the ground or evaporated (called runoff) carries contaminants from lawns, streets, buildings and parking lots and deposits them directly into our village creeks through the underground storm sewer system.
Flooding: Early stormwater management practices can prevent flooding, because of design standards & Village capital investment, flooding from normal storms has been reduced; however, but trouble spots still remain.
Funding: Stormwater Management has been funded in the past through developer fees, taxes and other general fund revenues. These funds to an increasing extent are going toward other critical operations of the Village such as police. Council has determined stormwater management should be related to water and runoff into the Village’s present and future stormwater system.
What is a Stormwater Utility?
A Stormwater Utility is to stormwater what a sewer utility is to sewage, and a water utility is to drinking water. It is a "stand-alone" service unit within the Village government which generates revenues through fees for service. A stormwater utility is responsible for funding the operation, construction and maintenance of stormwater management devices, for stormwater system planning, and runoff management. A stormwater utility generates its revenue through user fees. The fee is based on a formula related to stormwater runoff into a stormwater system. The more water runoff the greater fee.
How much is the fee?
Each single-family parcel will be charged based on an average lot size. A single family home will pay $36 per year. Other properties and non-resident developed parcels will pay based on how many Equivalent Residential units, or "ERUs", there are on the parcel.
How will the Stormwater Utility Fee be billed?
The charge is a service fee, not a tax. To save administrative costs, it will be billed as part of the monthly utility bill.
What about vacant property and public property like schools and parks?
Since rain falls on all property, all property will be charged. Schools, churches, etc., will be charged just like businesses; based on the number of ERUs on the site.
What is an Equivalent Residential Unit or ERU?
An ERU is a unit of measure which serves as an index to compare the runoff generated by different size properties with different amounts of impervious surface. Impervious surface is any surface which does not allow water to pass through to the soil. Rooftops, driveways, parking lots and streets are familiar examples of impervious surface. All single-family residential properties are calculated at 1 ERU and are billed the same flat daily rate. An example of how the 2006 residential rate is calculated: $ 0.0987 per day X 30 days = $ 2.961 X 1 ERU = $ 2.961.
Non-residential properties are calculated by how much impervious area the property is known to have, which was compiled from the village’s Geographical Information System (GIS) and other records. A property with 10,000 square feet of impervious area would be billed at 5 ERUs (10,000 divided by 2000).
Is there a minimum base charge?
Yes, there is a minimum charge. The minimum is based on the concept that even if no parcel contributed any runoff to the Village system, rain falling on Village streets still has to be managed. The costs of managing that stormwater have been assigned equally to all parcels in the form of a minimum charge. The yearly minimum charge, called the base fee, is set at $36.
If a property is not on a body of water and is considered high and dry, why is it charged?
There may not be a problem on a specific piece of property or in a neighborhood, but the runoff from the property and the neighbor's property contributes proportionately to the Village's overall stormwater system. All of those who enjoy living in Ashville benefit from positive actions to manage stormwater problems, and they all suffer when these problems are not addressed.
How will problems such as street flooding be solved?
The Village has developed a Capital Improvement Plan which outlines the projects which will be undertaken to reduce pollution and minimize flooding. The Village staff is aware of many drainage problems, but if a citizen knows of others, they can call the Village at 740-983-6367 to report problems. Not every drainage problem can be fixed immediately (it has taken over 100 years to create the present situation), but the Village of Ashville is committed to working to solve these problems as quickly as possible.