DeKalb commissioners weigh petition-driven program to let neighborhoods fund stormwater fixes

Commissioner Robert Patrick reintroduced a petition-driven proposal that would allow neighborhoods in DeKalb County to form petition districts to identify, design and share the cost of local stormwater repairs.

Under the five-step concept presented by county staff, a majority of affected property owners would document deficiencies and request a preliminary county assessment. Staff would estimate design needs and project budgets; property owners who sign the petition would be responsible for a defined share of capital costs, applied as liens and assessed collectively. The board would then decide whether to accept the petition, authorize funding for planning, and — if approved — adopt the district and direct project delivery.

Director Allen (staff) told the committee that staff sees strengths in the community-engagement aspects and that an ordinance could fit into chapter 25 of county code. Allen said staff recommends a dedicated maintenance fund inside the stormwater utility and that maintenance costs be incorporated into initial project budgets so districts can plan for long-term upkeep.

COO Williams said the administration is preparing complementary proposals that address private–public boundary issues where failing private systems create public impacts. He said staff expects to present additional details in the coming 30 days that may align with the commissioner’s proposal.

Commissioners raised equity and implementation concerns. Several members noted the county’s existing SPLOST worst-first rating system and discretionary SPLOST allocations (discussed as roughly $1,000,000 per commissioner in committee comments) and cautioned that any new citizen-selection process should not contradict prior commitments to objective ranking criteria. Sponsor Commissioner Bolton said the proposal would target main arteries that narrowly missed the resurfacing list and would not replace the rating process; staff responded that main arteries are re-rated annually and would move up when their condition worsens.

Commissioners recommended safeguards: a mitigation/responsiveness provision requiring petitioning property owners to take reasonable, time-bound actions to limit cost escalation; hold-harmless language for the county if homeowners hire their own contractors; and consideration of sliding-scale cost sharing tied to household income or property values to promote equity.

Staff flagged funding options discussed in the draft memorandum: stormwater-utility funds, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, SPLOST, grants and loans. Director Allen said the ordinance language would need legal review (including the state constitution’s anti-gratuity clause) and that staff would consult county counsel on financing and lien mechanics.

Next steps: staff said they would draft ordinance language, consider a maintenance fund within the stormwater utility, and return with a more detailed proposal for board review. The committee did not take a final vote on an ordinance at this meeting.