Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Impact Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fountain Green council raises sewer impact fee and sets new water fee to take effect in 120 days
Summary
The Fountain Green City Council approved a $14,756 sewer impact fee and set the culinary water impact fee at $5,000, with the water fee to take effect in 120 days. Council members debated the scale and timing of increases tied to a needed mechanical screening device for lagoons.
The Fountain Green City Council voted Nov. 20 to increase the city's sewer impact fee to $14,756 and set a culinary water impact fee at $5,000, with the water fee scheduled to begin 120 days after adoption.
Council members cited a recent impact-fee study that recommended larger fees to protect the water and sewer systems as the city grows. The mayor noted the study's maximum figure for water and framed the increase as necessary "to help with future growth and make sure that we're maintaining our system," per the presentation to the council.
The sewer fee debate focused on funding a mechanical screening system for the lagoons to remove non-degrading material before it reaches the lagoons, which officials said would extend lagoon life and delay the need for an expensive treatment plant. A council member who moved the $14,756 figure said it matched the analysis; opponents argued a smaller, targeted increase would be less burdensome on current residents while still funding an immediate screening device.
Council members asked for additional technical follow-up, including installing a flow meter to monitor inputs to the lagoon and clarifying whether impact-fee revenue could be applied to screening devices or must fund lagoon expansion. One councillor urged staff to consider a separate agenda item to discuss temporarily increasing monthly sewer rates to seed capital for screening so the city can combine local funds with potential CIB (Capital Improvement Board) support.
A motion to set the water impact fee at $5,000 and delay its effective date 120 days passed after a roll-call vote and brief discussion of holiday scheduling and ordinance amendments. The motion on the sewer increase also passed after discussion. The council did not amend detailed spending allocations in the meeting; staff said the mechanical screen remains a stated priority for CIB applications.
The council directed staff to provide more detailed cost breakdowns, engineering timelines and public-notice language before the fees take effect, and to pursue available grant funding to reduce direct costs to ratepayers.
