Council tables stormwater ordinance after engineering explains MS4 designation and funding implications

Members of the Scottsburg City Council engaged in extended discussion on Aug. 25, 2025, over Ordinance No. 2025-16, a proposed ordinance to regulate oversight and management of stormwater following the city's identification under the state's MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) requirements.

Jerry Edgar of Heritage Engineering told the council the city had been identified as subject to MS4 requirements and that the designation triggers responsibilities including public education, elimination of illicit discharges, and the review and inspection of city projects for stormwater controls. "Currently, the City of Scottsburg does not have any reviews into projects coming to the town or coming to the city," Edgar said, explaining the ordinance would create a municipal process for stormwater review and inspections.

Council members said they were not familiar with the full scope of the MS4 designation and requested the written notice the city received. City legal counsel Josh confirmed the MS4 identification was in the city's records and that staff could provide the April 2022 letter and related permit information to the council. Josh also noted that MS4 status affects eligibility for certain grants and that failure to comply could lead to fines or loss of funding opportunities.

Several council members raised concerns about imposing a new utility or fee without clear state mandate and about the near-term costs of identified stormwater projects. One council member referred to previously identified local projects with engineering estimates in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (for example, some projects near Opal Drive and High Street were described during discussion as being in the "$400,000 plus" range). Council members asked staff to provide the MS4 designation letter, a clearer description of required tasks under the MS4 permit, and project cost estimates before scheduling further votes.

After the discussion the council agreed to table the ordinance, directing staff to provide the requested documentation and to arrange a follow-up meeting with Heritage Engineering so council members could review the MS4 notice, compliance timeline, and funding options.

Next steps identified at the meeting included staff circulations of the state-designation documentation, engineering project cost estimates for known drainage projects, and scheduling a dedicated information session prior to advancing Ordinance 2025-16 on further readings.