Council approves staffing, fund and temporary loan for new stormwater utility

The Fayetteville City Council approved a resolution on April 1 to implement the stormwater utility adopted in December 2024 by creating a stormwater management enterprise fund, authorizing nine full‑time equivalent staff positions and approving a temporary loan from the General Fund to cover startup costs until stormwater fees begin to be collected.

Public Works staff described a staffing plan that includes two immediate hires—a GIS analyst and a senior utility billing coordinator—to set up billing, impervious‑area calculations and related systems ahead of an August billing start. Additional positions include a five‑member drainage crew (operation and maintenance), a staff engineer to manage capital projects, and a stormwater inspector. Annual personnel costs for the nine positions were estimated in staff materials (staff noted the total annual staffing cost is under $800,000), and the resolution also authorized approximately $1 million in equipment purchases for crews (tractors, vacuum units, small excavation and inspection tools), which will require lead time to procure.

The loan from the General Fund will provide temporary financing for equipment and initial staff costs prior to revenue collection. Council approved the resolution on roll call with no public opposition at the meeting. Staff said the first billing and revenue are anticipated in August and that two billing staff need to be in place immediately to prepare for that start.

Council asked several operational questions about the timing of hires, procurement lead times and projected staffing procurement during 2025; staff said immediate hiring of the two billing/GIS positions is necessary and the remainder of positions will be phased as revenue permits. The resolution assigns ongoing implementation to Public Works and Finance and directs staff to return with operational updates as the utility commences billing and maintenance work.