The Stormwater Utility and Stormwater Fund were created in April, 2005 with the adoption of Ordinance 2005-08.  The stormwater fund operates and maintains the stormwater system which consists of catch basins, manholes, pipes, culverts, ponds, swales and open channels. Previously, stormwater maintenance was funded out of the street fund or was ignored until there was a problem. During the first two years of the Utility’s existence we have cleaned all catch basins in the City using rental equipment.

As ‘soft path’ stormwater management techniques become more common stormwater facility maintenance becomes more labor-intensive. Swales, detention ponds and basins are now elaborately landscaped - for aesthetics and for stormwater treatment. Regular site visits and semi-annual pruning and weeding of these facilities are required. As a result we have added one FTE Utility Worker to the Public Works crew in order to be able to keep up with stormwater maintenance.

Capital projects proposed for the stormwater fund include a detention basin under the parking lot in Meinig Park and several ‘green’ demonstration projects including porous street surfacing, eco-roofs, infiltration basins and conversion of impermeable surfaces to permeable surfacing or vegetation.