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Summit leaders want funds to pay for woes in their communities
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 16, 2008
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District wants to create a stormwater management program and will pay for it with a new monthly fee on property owners — as much as $6 for homeowners and more for businesses.
The Cuyahoga Heights-based district, which extends into northern Summit County, wants the program to tackle long-standing flooding, water quality and erosion issues and already has identified more than $400 million worth of potential projects.
But the upcoming program and fee are causing controversy in Summit County, where some community leaders are worried that money will be funneled away from their communities to fund projects in Cuyahoga County.
''We're dead set against sending our money up north when we have our own problems to deal with,'' Macedonia Mayor Don Kuchta said. ''How would you feel if you had to give your next-door neighbor money for car repairs? It's the same thing. You take care of your car. I'll take care of my car.''
The regional sewer district was formed in 1972 by a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court order and oversees wastewater treatment in all or parts of 61 communities in the Cleveland metropolitan area.
More than 1 million people live within the district. Many northern Summit County communities — including all or parts of Macedonia, Richfield, Boston Heights and Hudson — are included because their waste flows into the district's treatment plants.
The district also is charged with overseeing stormwater issues, but has never developed a regional program.
Fee for property owners
After years of discussion, district leaders are working on the details, including identifying projects and setting a fee for property owners.
For homeowners within district territory, that fee, which likely will take effect in 2010, could be anywhere from $3 to $6 per month.
It would be higher for commercial property and be based on the amount of impervious surface, such as parking lots and roofs, that contribute to water run-off. For example, if a homeowner has 3,000 square feet of impervious surface and pays $4 a month, a commercial business owner with 30,000 square feet would pay 10 times that amount.
The district is looking into providing discounts if businesses minimize the run-off.
Frank Greenland, district director of watershed programs, said it's unclear how much money would be raised because officials are still developing the scope of the program.
A definitive plan will be presented to the district's board of trustees next year, he said.
The first few years would involve assessing the watershed and prioritizing problems, he said.
''We're just trying to figure out the parameters of the program,'' said Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, manager of environmental programs for the district. ''We are very interested in feedback from local governments . . . Very little has been set in stone except for us trying to solve regional flooding and erosion problems.''
Leaders question need
Several Summit County leaders are questioning the need for their communities to participate.
The county has its own stormwater coalition — Summit County Communities for Clean Storm Water. And Boston Heights Mayor Bill Goncy and Richfield Mayor Michael Lyons questioned whether it makes more sense for their communities to continue to coordinate efforts with that group.
''It is a valid question,'' said David White, a planning engineer with the Summit County Engineer's Office who helps coordinate the group.
The Summit coalition doesn't impose a fee on property owners.
But Greenland said that group is focused on meeting Environmental Protection Agency requirements for stormwater.
''The district's program goes well beyond [that],'' he said, adding that the district would want to work with the coalition.
The Summit mayors have other worries.
The Cleveland-area sanitary system has had major sewer overflow problems and Summit leaders fear their money will be directed there under the guise of improving water quality.
They also are concerned because the seven-member board of trustees that runs the district and determines funding priorities doesn't include anyone from Summit.
The board, with court approval, can impose the fee without a vote by property owners.
''What happened to taxation with representation?'' Northfield Mayor Victor Milani asked.
Meanwhile, Macedonia has had a local committee working on stormwater issues for two years, Kuchta said. That group's efforts could be wasted, he added.
He said he'd like Macedonia to opt out of the district.
But Greenland said the district would oppose that.
''A regional program with holes in it doesn't work very well,'' he said.
Kuchta, Goncy and Lyons said they aren't opposed to a regional approach to stormwater problems. And they don't even take issue with a fee.
It's just that they want their communities to receive some benefit, they said.
Public meeting Tuesday
Kuchta, Lyons and Goncy are holding a public meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Macedonia City Hall to talk about the issue.
Dreyfuss-Wells, the sewer district's manager of environmental programs, said flooding, erosion and water quality are issues that transcend individual communities and call out for regional approaches.
''They are by no means concentrated in Cuyahoga County,'' she said. ''They are spread out across the watershed.''
She added that the goal is not to tell local communities what to do.
''At the end of the day, local governments are always in control of what happens in their borders,'' Dreyfuss-Wells said.
For more details about the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, call 216-881-6600 or go online to: http://www.neorsd.org/
For more details about Summit County stormwater programs, call 330-643-2850 or go online to http://engineer.co.summit.oh.us/.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 05:20 AM, 11/16/2008
I will agree the regional stormwater causes a stink. My family would like to know why both Summit County and Cuyahoga County have waited ten years to come up with a plan to fix the problem. My family was effected healthwise, politically railroaded, and put through a living hell because the local guys ( and Springfield Township ) tried to keep the problem quiet. Why have they been given this long to fix the problems? Now, the taxpayers are having to pay higher bills ten plus years later? Grants paid the bill until now. I guess now the taxpayers bills are going to do the rest. The truth is like smoke....no matter how hard you try to hide it, it finds a way out. It was just a matter of time before the sewer/storm sewer issues surfaced somewhere besides the tap we drank from. The flooding is not a new problem, it is just the officials all of the sudden feel it is a problem that needs addressed. I do feel sorry for the taxpayers dealing with this issue. It has been a problem since we moved here in 1986.......now it is urgent.......right?
Posted 09:04 AM, 11/16/2008
They could try selling their sewer system like the mayor of Akron tried to do.
