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Up to $500 to seize water
by Rick DeClue · News · December 11, 2014
Find a way to hold back rainwater on your property, and the City of West Branch will pay for some of it.
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the West Branch City Council approved creation of a fund to subsidize projects by property owners that exercise storm water best-management practices.
Eligible projects include rain gardens, bioswales, rain barrels, pervious paving, drainage channel erosion control, bank stabilization, pond maintenance or other projects approved by the city’s “stormwater coordinator,” Paul Stagg.
The city will reimburse residents for 50 percent of costs, up to a maximum of $500 per project. The fund will operate on a “first come, first serve” basis.
Initial funding for this year of $2,500 is provided by receipts of the city’s new Stormwater Utility Fee. Residents requesting funds for multiple projects may be considered at the discretion of the Stormwater Coordinator.
Property owners are responsible for all work and maintenance of the improvements. The coordinator will inspect improvements upon completion and prior to reimbursement.
The council vote to approve the program was four-to-one, with council member Colton Miller voting no. Miller specifically objected to the rain barrel reimbursement, which has a $50 maximum.
He said the council had told citizens the Stormwater Management Utility was created to provide funds for infrastructure needs in the city’s stormwater management efforts. Miler does not believe rain barrels represent infrastructure, but are more of an educational use.
Council member Mary Beth Stevenson countered that the rainwater barrels will help the city’s infrastructure by keeping water on the property for other uses and lowering the flow into the storm sewer. The barrels typically hold 100 gallons and cost $100 or less.
Mayor Mark Worrell said his only concern about the rain barrels was aesthetic. He prefers not to see rain barrels dominate the scene along Main Street.
“We’ve spent a lot of money making downtown look nice,” he said.
Stevenson said she thought most buildings downtown have downspouts that do not discharge onto sidewalks in front of the buildings and since rain barrels catch water from downspouts, the barrels should be away from the street. The council agreed the stormwater coordinator could also use discretion on this issue.
City administrator Matt Muckler said the first year of this program should be considered a test, with possible adjustments in the future in terms of implementation and funding.
Muckler and Stevenson both acknowledged that programs in various towns in Iowa differ, depending on each town’s goals and needs.
Worrell said of this program, like the Stormwater Management Utility itself, “we have to start somewhere. The city has lots of problems with stormwater.”
West Branch joined the Iowa Storm Water Education Program and has sent council members and staff to various training and certification programs as part of this effort.
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