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Council discusses stormwater utility fee using 2,650‑sq‑ft ERU; staff to study rate and credit options
Summary
Plain City staff presented a proposed stormwater utility fee using an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) of 2,650 sq ft and estimated about 2,764 ERUs village‑wide. Council asked staff to study rates, credit eligibility for treatment measures, and regulatory obligations; no fee was adopted.
Village engineer Randy VanTilburg of the Mannik & Smith Group and Village Administrator Haley Lupton presented a proposed stormwater utility fee on June 4 intended to help fund maintenance and improvements to Plain City’s stormwater system and reduce runoff impacts to Big Darby Creek.
VanTilburg described the methodology used to compute impervious area and said MSG’s analysis establishes an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) of 2,650 square feet of impervious area per residential lot. Based on current estimates the Village contains approximately 2,764 ERUs. He said revenues were projected using an assumed 3.6% annual growth rate; staff emphasized the program would seed local matches for grants but would not cover all capital-improvement costs.
Council discussed billing and credit mechanics. Lupton said residential fees would be added to refuse-collection bills and commercial properties would be billed separately; credits or reductions could be available where commercial sites employ qualifying mechanical stormwater treatment. Councilmember T. Harriman and others noted some subdivisions already pay for maintenance through the Madison County Ditch Maintenance Program and asked whether that enrollment could affect credits. VanTilburg said he would evaluate whether a subdivision’s current maintenance enrollment or mechanical treatment qualifies for a credit.
VanTilburg also noted his recollection that Ohio EPA requirements trigger additional stormwater management responsibilities for communities once they reach certain population thresholds; he said staff will research current regulatory triggers. Council, by unanimous consent, agreed to continue studying the program and asked staff to prepare resident communications; no formal vote or fee adoption occurred at the work session.
Next steps: staff to analyze rate scenarios, credit qualifications for commercial and subdivision treatments, regulatory thresholds, and to return with refined proposals and outreach materials for Council consideration.
