Peachtree City officials are talking about the potential for doubling annual stormwater fees to handle some $8.2 million in future capital projects. That means residential property owners would be paying between $63 and $142 a year, up from the current range of $32 to $72.
At a workshop meeting last week, the City Council was told that the city’s stormwater department also needed funds for additional employees to conduct additional stormwater pipe maintenance. Stormwater manager Mark Caspar said when a stormwater pipe is replaced, he has to pull his crew off maintenance to perform the replacement.
Increasing the staffing level will cost the city $358,246 a year according to Caspar’s projections.
While the city may well end up doubling the stormwater fees to pay for the new employees and capital projects, there was some discussion of making the fees payable twice a year instead of once a year for residential property owners to soften the blow somewhat.
Of the various capital projects discussed, improvements in the area of Golfview Drive are estimated to cost $1.29 million to prevent ongoing flooding in several locations, Caspar said.
Another $927,000 is needed to work on the two large detention ponds in the Kedron Village area and another $911,000 for rehabilitation of the detention pond in the Rockspray subdivision, Caspar said. Even preventative maintenance of the Westpark detention pond is tabbed at $150,000.
Caspar’s budget also included $2.5 million for a program to re-line existing pipe to improve its lifespan significantly instead of calling for a more-costly replacement.
Pressed by Councilman Eric Imker, Caspar said some of the pipe re-lining projects could be postponed for cost savings.
No final decision was made on the fee increase recommendation from Caspar, but council is expected to delve into the matter at a later date.
