Engineers present water impact-fee study; recommend $13,805 fee and public hearing

An engineering consultant presented a draft water impact-fee study and recommended next steps for Mantua, saying the combined impact fee for four proposed water projects would be $13,805.

The presenter (Unidentified Speaker S3) reported, "The total proposed impact fee with all those 4 projects is $13,805," and contrasted that with the town’s current water impact fee of $11,730. The firm said it used a 2.5% growth assumption for demand projections and factored future development’s cost-share at about 39% for the projects discussed.

The presentation covered the proposed 500,000-gallon storage tank and a new well; under the study’s assumptions the town could face a storage shortfall of roughly 150,000 gallons in about 20 years. The consultant explained how commercial projects would be assessed by "equivalent residential connections" (ERCs) using state tables or applicant-provided water-use data.

Council members asked whether impact fees can be assessed retroactively and how to treat large existing users; the presenter said reassessment is constrained by time limits and state rules and that excessive usage is normally addressed through rate structure rather than retrospective impact fees.

On procedural next steps the presenter said, "...you to have a a 10 day public notice, And then, you'd have a public hearing, and then, you could enact those." The council agreed to post the study for public review during the notice period and schedule the hearing before any fee adoption.

The consultant and council discussed timing and the process for revising ERCs and fee levels if growth differs from the study assumptions. No formal vote on impact fees occurred at the meeting; the record shows the council will hold the notice period and a public hearing prior to any action.