Dwaine Heinrich

Jamestown  (CSi)  A stormwater Utility has been established in Jamestown, to manage runoff in the city that flows off grass surfaces and wooded areas that is not absorbed into the soil.  Rainwater and snowmelt not absorbed into the ground, flows into ditches, culvert and the storm water system.

It does not receive any treatment to remove pollutants before entering into rivers and streams.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Mayor, Dwaine Heinrich said, the City of Jamestown is adopting  a Stormwater Utility Rate to fairly distribute the cost of the community’s stormwater services across all properties based on the total property area or size.

The services include everything from cleaning stormwater, oxbows, and ponds to street sweeping, plowing street maintenance and infrastructure  management.

The Mayor said, prior to creating Jamestown’s stormwater utility rate, stormwater initiatives were main funded through the operating budgets of the Water, Sanitary Collection, and Street Departments.  He added that some properties are tax-exempt, therefore charging a rate to all property owner is more equitable  than funding storm water maintenance with property taxes.

Residential properties have an average runoff weighting  factor of 10.75 and average of single family residential samples.  All residential including vacant properties starting July 1st 2019 will pay a $3 monthly rate, regardless of property size.

Non residential  including vacant properties are subject to specific calculations based on land use and a calculated runoff weighting factor.  The average runoff weighting factor for non residential properties is 19.25.  The minimal monthly stormwater utility rate is also $3 for those properties.

More information at the city’s web site then click on specific links.