Stormwater Fee Structure Presented At Johns Creek Work Session

Johns Creek GA

12 February, 2021

5:55 PM

Description

JOHNS CREEK, GA —Due to an aging stormwater infrastructure, Johns Creek has witnessed erosion, flooding and contamination of rivers and lakes. That is why the city council has been moving toward establishing a stormwater utility. But financing such a project requires a billing structure for property owners. At a Feb. 8 work session, the city's Community Development Director Ben Song presented the city's impervious surface analysis and a proposed fee and credit structure, according to NorthFulton.com. Song said 95 percent of the proposed fee would be based on the amount of a property's impervious surfaces, such as pavements, roads, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots. The remaining five percent, according to NorthFulton.com, represents the property's pervious area. According to Song, the city estimates the monthly stormwater utility fee to be around $4 for an average single-family home, though the fee structure would be based on a system of six residential tiers. There would be another calculation for non-residential property. The smallest properties would be exempt from the fee. The council also discussed certain credits property owners could apply for in order to lessen stormwater fees. Meanwhile, Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker said he was afraid a monthly fee would not address the city's stormwater issue fast enough, estimating it would take at least 15 years to fix the current problems. Bodker discussed additional financing methods for stormwater issues. According to NorthFulton.com, the city staff now will take the council's feedback and announce a billing process in April. The city hopes to implement a stormwater utility ordinance in May. Read more at NorthFulton.com.