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Plain City Council sets $5 monthly starter rate for proposed stormwater utility
Summary
Council received a technical briefing on a proposed stormwater utility that defines an ERU as 2,650 sq ft and agreed by unanimous consent to an initial $5 per month per ERU rate for three years, with billing to begin Jan. 1, 2026 and collection via quarterly refuse bills.
Plain City Council on Sept. 3 directed staff to begin implementing a stormwater utility with a starter rate of $5.00 per month per equivalent residential unit (ERU), after a technical presentation from the village’s engineering consultant.
Randy VanTilburg of Mannik & Smith Group outlined the proposal, saying the village’s standard ERU would be 2,650 square feet of impervious area. He told council that comparable communities use that ERU size and that an initial rate in a $5–$7 range is typical. VanTilburg said revenue from the utility would be restricted to stormwater repair, maintenance and capital projects and would help the village comply with Ohio EPA requirements.
Council members focused on the rate, billing mechanism and communications. Village Administrator Haley Lupton told council staff intends to bill the fee quarterly through the existing refuse billing system, and recommended a January 1, 2026, start date to allow for a resident outreach campaign. Mayor Jody Carney urged a lower initial fee with the option to raise rates later to reduce the immediate burden on residents.
By unanimous consent the council agreed to establish a $5.00 per-month-per-ERU fee for the first three years and to review rates at the end of that period. Council also agreed that a first reading of the enacting legislation could be scheduled at the next regular council meeting. Staff said some commercial parcels may be billed on a separate schedule if that is administratively simpler.
Why it matters: The utility would create a dedicated, transparent revenue source for stormwater projects and regulatory compliance, providing seed funding that officials said could strengthen grant applications for larger capital improvements. The council’s starter-rate decision sets the program’s initial fiscal parameters but does not yet adopt the ordinance.
Next steps: Staff will begin a communication campaign, finalize billing procedures with the refuse system and present the enacting legislation for first reading at the next regular meeting. A formal vote to adopt the utility is still required before fees are assessed.
