ABC water, storm district to start resident utility fee soon

BOARDMAN

The ABC Water and Storm Water District continues its efforts to get up and running, with plans to start charging residents of Boardman and Canfield townships a storm water utility fee sometime next year, according to district board members.

The annual fee property owners will pay has yet to be determined.

The board’s determination will be based on the findings of an engineering study, authorized by the board last year and conducted by CDM Smith.

Canfield and Boardman townships are facing the issue of aging storm water infrastructure, since many systems were built in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s when the communities were developing, Boardman Township Administrator Jason Loree and Canfield Township Administrator Keith Rogers said.

“It’s like a never-ending battle of old infrastructure that needs to be taken care of,” Loree said. “Boardman is very sensitive to storm water projects and storm water problems. And this district is something that can help tremendously in overcoming hurdles the townships has faced over the years.”

The townships are now responsible for maintaining storm water infrastructure, which includes systems such as catch basins, storm water lines, and township-owned detention and retention basins.

“What this district would do, is maintain that infrastructure, improve that infrastructure and build new infrastructure,” Loree said.

Read more about the plan in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.