New Albany, Ind. Could Face Fines for Storm Water

The city of New Albany, Ind. faces an unfunded federal mandate to come up with a storm water management plan.

One of the first deadlines the city must meet is May 6, 2006. If the city misses that deadline, it could face stiff penalties.

According to a report in the Tribune City, the New Albany City Council heard from storm water advisory board members who want a proposed ordinance to establish fees to fund the plan to be postponed.

New Albany Mayor James Garner, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of the May 6 deadline. City Council member Beverly Crump pointed out to the council that it could face penalties of $25,000 a day if it misses the deadline.

"We're not friends of the EPA," Garner said. "Let's not forget that. They don't send us Christmas cards."

Some council members expressed concern about proposed user fees for commercial businesses. Some thought that it was not fair for large and small businesses to pay the same $15 a month user fee.

Council member Mark Seabrook said raising the fee for large businesses would punish the small businesses because the fee would be an across-the-board fee.

Sewer Board member Todd Solomon endorsed establishing the interim fee. He emphasized that the fee is an interim one while a formula is established for a permanent structure.

The plan would cost $182,000 a year for five years, strictly for management, not on actual projects. The city is expected to collect about $800,000 from the fees over a 12-month period.

Source: Tribune City