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Clarksville officials fund $1 million stormwater study, signal possible new utility and fees
Summary
City council approved first reading of an ordinance that adds $1 million to the Clarksville Gas and Water budget for a year‑long stormwater study and budgets a new stormwater operations manager position; officials say the study could lead to a stormwater utility and a parcel‑based rate structure.
Clarksville City Council members voted on first reading to amend the Gas and Water Department budget and include $1,000,000 for a citywide stormwater study and to budget a stormwater operations division manager.
The study, presented to the council by Mr. Riggins of Clarksville Gas and Water, will inventory and assess pipes, ditches, injection wells and detention basins, review permits and FEMA flood maps, and recommend short‑, mid‑ and long‑term capital projects. "We've got a million dollars in the budget for a stormwater study," Riggins said. The council approved Ordinance 93, first reading, 12‑0.
Why it matters: city staff said existing maintenance through the street department lacks a dedicated funding source to address chronic stormwater problems, and a study would define responsibilities, staffing and equipment needs. Riggins told the council the study would also support creation of a rate structure; he said many peer cities use a parcel‑based system tied to impervious surface to set stormwater fees.
What council heard: Riggins described options under consideration, including moving stormwater responsibilities from the street department into Gas and Water, hiring an in‑house expert to manage the study, expanding GIS stormwater mapping and possibly inspecting private injection wells to give owners compliance reports. He said the study team would evaluate whether private systems spill over into public infrastructure and whether some private assets should be public.
Staff cautioned that modeling infrastructure capacity and drafting a rate structure are likely to follow consultant work and that grant funding will be sought; Riggins said American Rescue Plan funds were not available for new applications. The study timeline was estimated at about a year and a half.
Outcome and next steps: Ordinance 93 (amending the fiscal year 2024‑25 budgets and adopting fiscal year 2025‑26 budgets for Clarksville Gas and Water) passed first reading, 12 yes, 0 no. Council and staff said the study would inform whether the city establishes a stormwater utility and, if so, a tiered rate based on impervious area. Any creation of a utility, rate schedule or collection mechanism would require further council action.
Discussion vs decision: the council approved funding to study the issue and add a position; no fee or utility was adopted at this meeting.
Closing note: Riggins said the study would also identify capital projects needing immediate attention and the likely staff and equipment costs to operate stormwater management functions if the city takes them on.
