Town of
Stormwater
Utility FAQ
Q:
When does the stormwater utility fee go into effect?
A. The Town Council
approved the fee on Dec. 13, 2005 and it will be effective on the billing
statement you will receive in January.
Q:
Why do I have to pay a stormwater fee?
Q:
What is stormwater and why is it a problem?
A.
Stormwater
is water from rain and snowmelt. As rain
and snow falls to earth in agricultural and undeveloped areas, it is either
absorbed or it slowly runs off and dissipates.
In a growing community like McCordsville, where rooftops and paved areas
not only prevent the water from being absorbed, but help it run off at a much
faster rate, problems can arise.
Inadequate drainage systems compound these serious problems associated
with heavy rains and snow thaw. The
stormwater accumulates in many areas of the Town, causing nuisance flooding and
possible threats to public health and safety.
However, flooding is only a part of the problem. As the rain falls onto our streets and runs
off, it carries with it pollutants such as gasoline, oil and heavy metals. Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers are
washed from lawns and farm fields.
Q:
How will the revenues from the stormwater utility fee be
used?
A. All revenues will be used to support the stormwater program,
which includes maintenance of the drainage system, such as pipes and ditches;
protecting properties from flooding; protecting our streams and wetlands from
erosion and pollution; and complying with State and Federal regulatory
mandates.
Q: Who has to pay to fee?
A. All residential property owners, owners of agricultural
property, owners of undeveloped, platted property, owners of commercial or
business property, schools, churches and other not-for-profits, including the
Town of McCordsville.
Q:
What are the utility fees based on?
A. The stormwater utility
fee is based on the amount of stormwater runoff from building roofs, driveways and
parking lots and other impervious surface areas.
Q:
What is impervious surface?
A. Impervious surface means
those disturbed or hard surfaced areas that either prevent or retard the
natural entry of water into the soil.
Rooftops, buildings, streets, parking lots, sidewalks, asphalt,
concrete, other paving, and driveways are all examples of impervious
surface.
Q:
How are residential fees determined?
A. Each home in McCordsville
is equal to one Equivalent Residential Unit or ERU. Residential property is charged at a fee of
$7.50 per residential unit per month.
Q:
How is agricultural property assessed?
A. Agricultural property is
assessed a fee of $3.60 per acre per year. Therefore, an 80 acre farm would pay
an assessment of $288.00 per year. If there is a home on the property, there
would be an additional $7.50 a month (or $45 bi-annual) assessment.
Q.
How are platted, undeveloped properties assessed?
A.
Platted, undeveloped parcels are assessed at $15.00 per parcel per year.
Q:
What if I own two parcels next to each other, but I only have a house on
one parcel?
A. You would pay the $7.50 a
month fee for the parcel with the home located on it and $15.00 per year for
the separate, undeveloped parcel you own.
Q:
I already pay a ditch assessment to
A.
You will no longer be paying the ditch assessment to the County.
This
fee replaces the ditch assessment.
Q:
I have a septic tank. Why should
I pay this fee?
A. The stormwater utility
fee is used specifically to address stormwater issues throughout the Town. A septic tank is used to treat wastewater at
a specific location. Therefore, owners
of property who currently do not receive a sewer bill,
will begin receiving a $45.00 bill twice a year. This is based on the $7.50 per month
residential rate.
Q:
How are commercial properties assessed?
A. Commercial properties are
divided into three categories – small, medium and large. Small is defined as having 24,999 square feet
or less of impervious surface; medium is defined as between 25,000 to 49,999
square feet of impervious surface and large is property in excess of 50,000
square feet of impervious surface. Each
commercial property is also required to pay a monthly flat rate, plus $.00083
per square foot of impervious surface (based on the 3,000 square foot ERU). The monthly flat rate is $15 for small, $30
for medium, and $45 for large facilities.
Q:
My business was required to put in a detention pond, which helps control
stormwater pollution. Can I get a credit
for having installed this pollution prevention device?
A. Yes, a credit for installing detention ponds or other similar
devices is taken into account before you receive your bill. If your facility is categorized as a large or
medium commercial facility, you will receive a credit against your flat rate of
$15. If you are the owner of a small
commercial facility, the amount of the credit is $5.
Q:
What if I live in an apartment or duplex? Do I have to pay $7.50 a month?
A. Not directly. The billing statement will be sent to the
property owner in the same way as the sewer bills are sent.
Q:
Is there anyway I can appeal this fee?
A.
Yes. There are procedures which
apply to all adjustment requests of the stormwater utility user fee. The request should be directed to the Town’s
Authorized Agent, who is Ron Crider, the Public Works Commissioner. The procedures are contained in Ordinance
110805, which can be obtained at Town Hall, 5759 W. Broadway.
Q:
What happens if the Town of
A.
The Town could face fines of up to $25,000 a day for each
violation.
Need more
information? Contact the
McCordsville Department of Public Works at 335-3493