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Public hearing Tuesday on stormwater fee

Monday, December 1, 2008 6:54 PM PST

By The Daily News

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Cowlitz County commissioners will hold a public hearing Tuesday (Dec. 2) on establishing a stormwater fee for rural county residents near Longview and Kelso.

State and federal rules require the county to adopt a stormwater program that sets standards for developments, prevents illegal dumping and educates the public about the potential for contaminted stormwater to cause environmental damage. The program is mandated by the state Department of Ecology as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The fee would be $54 a year for residential residents and would be for managing stormwater runoff. The fee would apply to unincorporated areas around Longview and Kelso. It would affect about 3,900 single-family homes in Lexington and areas north of Kelso and west of Longview. The cities of Longview and Kelso already have similar programs, according to Kent Cash, the county’s public works director.

Commercial property owners may pay a higher fee, depending on much impervious surface they have on their land. Impervious services keep water from entering the ground and include rooftops, sidewalks, parking lots and other surfaces that lead to rainwater runoff.

The hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. in the commissioner’s hearing room on the third floor of the County Administration Building, 207 Fourth Ave. North, Kelso. The commissioners may vote to adopt the ordinance creating the stormwater utility and adopting the fees later in the meeting.

Related article:

County considers stormwater-fee program  (Oct. 21)

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country gal wrote on Dec 1, 2008 1:28 PM:

" Stormwater Fee??!! Next thing will be Sunshine Fee! What a bunch of crock! "

truthiness wrote on Dec 1, 2008 1:34 PM:

" This "stormwater program" already exists. Stormwater and erosion control is already a consideration when applying for a building permit. Illegal dumping is already illegal. What more will they do prevent it? Make it double illegal? This idea of another program seems like theft of $54 from each country resident! "

American First wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:30 PM:

" I find it interesting how our elected officials use the word FEE. When payment is mandatory it is a TAX?! Call it what it is and stop lessening it! This TAX is theft. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Dec 1, 2008 2:48 PM:

" American First is absolutely correct. When I want to have something I pay a fee. When I have to pay under government order, it is a TAX. And yes, this TAX is a theft. And Countral Gal is right. When is the sunshine tax coming? Can we live in a more tax-oriented place? Why can't our officials look for other solutions? The only solution everytime is a higher tax. "

Thought wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:03 PM:

" What kind of FEE is the federal government going to pay for the "storm runoff" from Mt. St Helens??? I believe that fee should be included in the diking taxes seeing as we already have drains from the last snaffu the diking district made.. Its not a fee its a TAX. Call it what it is...Oh thats right No New Taxes. My mistake. "

DUH wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:19 PM:

" If you're going to charge us for your so-called Stormwater Management, you better do something to manage the stormwater. I am tired of every time it rains, Alpha Dr. is closed due to high water. Doesn't look like that stormwater runs anywhere except down the middle of the street. Other roads in and around Longview are the same way. All the stormwater manages to do is pool in the middle of roadways. Tell us, will this extra "FEE" change anything? "

viper wrote on Dec 1, 2008 7:49 PM:

" 54.00 dollars gee I can't wait to write that check would it be easier for you if we just put you on our bank accounts so you can steal what you want and just call it a fee "

towboater wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:29 PM:

" I am in awe and amazed the City's and Counties of this area have managed to get SO FAR without Dept of E storm
water management.

The thing that worries me, the fee pays them to find stuff wrong or they are out of a job. The worst is yet to come. "

herenkelso wrote on Dec 1, 2008 11:08 PM:

" Nope, not doing it..lien me. You can't call a TAX a FEE and fees are usually for new construction. My place doesn't flood, I don't live in a development and I already know not to throw garbage in the slough. Consider me educated and move on. Sounds to me like Cowlitz is doing a fundraiser. Try balancing the budget with what you've got instead. That's what I have to do. "

cuz wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:03 AM:

" We already pay the stormwater fee in the city limits and it runs thru my front yard, I should be getting some of that money for managing the stormwater in Kelso. "

flatbakman wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:29 AM:

" So, should all of us that live in the cities in Cowlitz County already pay a storm water fee that does not quite add up to $54 per year expect our taxes to go up also? "

Local Yokel wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:03 AM:

" Shall we all show at the meeting and make it known that until our economic issues are dealt with appropriately we will not pay one more dime? Perhaps if they actually told us what WE would get out of it, we might be able to bring other ideas to the table. Right now is NOT the time to increase fees or taxes on anyone, and we could take a page from Oregon's book and "Just say no." Let the Commissioners know that this is NOT the way. We all need services, and we need to mitigate the potential for flooding damages, but tossing money that we don't have at it may not be the only solution. Come up with a plan and go to the meeting. Don't just whine that you don't want to pay; have an idea how to address the issue first - - then let them know. "

jamshemil wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:11 PM:

" so tell me commissioners how will this solve our problems,other than fill someones pocket full of cash. "

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