Stormwater vs. rate increases: Two different discussions

There has been some recent confusion between the Sewer District’s Stormwater Management Program and Project Clean Lake and we would like to take a moment to clarify the discussion.

The meeting held April 14 by County Executive Ed FitzGerald was to propose a mediation between the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and many of our member communities who are strongly opposed to the Sewer District’s Stormwater Management Program. This program would help manage flooding, streambank erosion and water quality problems on a regional basis. This is the program that would charge a typical homeowner $4.75 per month–or $57 per year–and is currently in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. We are set for trial on July 18.

The Sewer District’s current schedule of public meetings discuss a 13% rate increase (pending Board of Trustees’ approval) that is a combination of regular rate increases and costs necessary for Project Clean Lake, the Sewer District’s 25-year, $3 billion program to reduce the amount of combined sewer overflows (or CSO) from entering local streams, rivers and Lake Erie.

On our website, you can find a quick PDF cheat-sheet comparing the two programs.

There will be a sewer rate increase, plus–when we have authorization to begin billing for the Stormwater Management Program–a fee to solve regional stormwater problems.

Questions? Ask us in the comment section below and we will reply as soon as we can.