Columbiana considers $5.81 fee per home to solve flooding woes

By D.a. Wilkinson

COLUMBIANA — City officials have taken a first step to alleviate stormwater runoff.

Council has given the first of two needed readings to assess a $5.81 monthly fee for homes.

Keith Chamberlin, the city manager, said the fee would help generate around $150,000.

The money would be used to help pay for preliminary engineering studies that would take six to nine months to prepare.

The city could borrow the rest of the money to finance the study.

“Then we would have good solid preliminary engineering,” he said.

The corrective work could begin work in early 2011.

The city is still eyeing a U.S. Department of Agriculture funding program. The city could apply for a $10 million grant/loan from the USDA and have to repay only $2.5 million.

City residents recently complained to council about flooded homes, basements and vehicles.

Jay Groner, city service director, said the preliminary engineering for such projects is very important.

He said it would make no sense to install an 8-inch diameter pipe when a 12-inch diameter pipe is needed.

Previous officials installed water and sewer lines.

“Stormwater utilities were an afterthought,” Groner said.

The flooding problems affect every part of the city, he added.

He said people with questions about the flooding could call him or Chamberlin.

wilkinson@vindy.com