Lock Haven city council takes next step towards imposition of a stormwater fee

LOCK HAVEN, PA – City council voted unanimously Monday night to propose an ERU (equivalent residential units) fee of $100 per year in a yet to be created ordinance to enable imposition of the city’s first Stormwater Fee, designed to provide user financial assistance for maintaining and upgrading the stormwater system.

According to City Manager Greg Wilson, the ordinance will need to be constructed, then presented to council for its consideration, advertised, a public hearing held, before being adopted to go into effect in the next calendar year. The intention of council is that the ERU be billed quarterly on the water/sewer bill of customers in the city limits.

Council had directed the administration to pursue the implementation of the fee, but needed to set a rate. Wilson said the ERU applies only to residential parcels.  Commercial/industrial parcels would be assessed one or more ERUs; this as how sewer customers in other municipalities pay an EDU, with residential units paying 1 EDU and then commercial/industrial paying more depending on use of the system.

Information provided by the city manager said it will cost some $1.1 million per year for the next 30 years to upgrade and maintain the city’s stormwater system. Some of that money is expected to continue to come from the city’s general fund.

Wilson said city residents are encouraged to learn more about the stormwater management fee and also provide feedback through a 3-minute survey at the city’s projects page at https://lockhavenpa.civilspace.io/en/projects/exploring-a-stormwater-management-fee. The survey results will be provided to Council after the survey closes on May 31, 2022