HT readers: Neighborhoods need relief from flooding
Several readers responded that a separate fee just for drainage work is justified and that
As a resident, former county commissioner and former state legislator, "I have to say that the
The Rev.
"We were flooded without warning," she noted. "It appears that drainage has not been properly maintained to get the water away from developments and flowing to the
'Very small price to pay'
"Yes, we have flood insurance thankfully, but some additional money each year on my tax bill is a very small price to pay for my safety in my own home and the hope this devastation never happens again on a summer rainy night," Wayne wrote. "It only takes one clogged drain to cause this tragedy, and all
"I think the county should enact a stormwater fee that can only be used to alleviate existing flooding problems," wrote
"Proposed new development should be evaluated not only in terms of the need for on-site retention but for its potential for adding to the problem. ... Incremental additions of flood waters may be the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back' in a given runoff area."
The county "may want to consider developer incentives for providing additional stormwater retention that helps to alleviate current flooding problems," Bennett suggested. Regardless, "the fee is necessary, no matter what development policies are adopted."
"I believe the developers need to develop infrastructure (roads and water, sewers, drainage) as they add new developments,"
'The new reality of rainfall'
"Developers are contributing to flooding by being allowed to provide retention to an inadequate standard,"
LiMarzi asked whether "a small levy" paid by "all citizens to adequately fund our needs is better than separate fees for everything? That punishes citizens for the fact that their government did inadequate planning. Better for officials to consider real needs of the area and pass a budget that reflects those needs. That is what a real fiscal conservative would do, not just cut taxes regardless of real needs. If people want to lower the taxes, let them vote on what services they would like to cut."
"Is a stormwater utility fee a fair way to pay for drainage maintenance and improvements?"
Merriam thinks the fee should be based on "the amount of impervious surface" and that property owners with "pervious paving, rain gardens, bioswales, cisterns or 'green roofs' to reduce and treat their runoff on site" should have a lower assessment.
"I am all in favor of a fee either by direct assessment by taxing district to the benefitting neighborhood or a general tax assessment fee," Rouse stated. "My concern is that a general assessment would only be used to benefit developers and not the general public. A list of projects needs to be developed to ensure money would be spent on helping those that are already victims of flooding."
Potenza would be willing to pay an additional
"Whatever happened to 'impact fees'?"
"And yet when I read about impact fees today, it's usually in the context of a developer having them waived because they'd rather spend their money on 'campaign contributions' to keep the politicians on their side. Let the homeowners and other taxpayers cover the costs while the developers increase their profits."
Whitfield area resident
"It really doesn't matter where the money comes from" for stormwater projects, Luppino stated. "What matters is that it gets addressed. When the
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