Borough Council President Susan Naugle
The Gettysburg Borough Storm Water Authority voted on Monday to begin the process of collecting a fee from property owners for handling storm water.
Borough Manager Charles Gable said the bills should be mailed about July 15.
The bills, which have been described by some residents as a “third utility,” are to pay for new storm water regulations mandated by federal and state governments.
Fees are divided into three tiers depending on the amount of impermeable space on a property. Impermeable space refers to areas in which rainwater cannot seep directly into the ground. The calculation is made using satellite imagery.
Properties with less than 1,250 square feet of impermeable space will be charged $50.00. Properties with between 1,250 and 3,749 square feet will be charged $100. Properties with over 3,750 square feet will be charged $100 for each 2,500 square feet of impervious surface.
The bills must be paid within 45 days. There are discounts for early, and penalties for late, payment.
As mandated by the federal Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) requirements, the fees will be used to maintain the borough’s storm sewers and make improvements that keep sediment out of local creeks and rivers.
In a video explaining the project, Borough President Susan Naugle said there are “miles of pipes” under the borough that must be maintained.
According to the film, thousands of pounds of sediment that now reach Rock Creek, Stevens Run, and Culps Run – each a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay — must be contained.
Naugle said there are “good reasons to capture storm water. Doing so “can help mitigate flooding and keep basements dry.” Storm water management also “provides clean water for drinking and recreation,” she said.
All entities must pay the fee including schools, non-profits, churches, and federal government properties. The railroads will also be billed.
An appeals process is available, but only potential errors in calculating impervious area are likely to be reviewable.
Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh reported comparisons with other municipalities that are affected by the mandate, saying “overall our number is fairly reasonable.”
He noted that in Greencastle, PA the average resident was expected to pay about $170, and in Delta Borough in York County the average was expected to be $120.