Stormwater Utility Potentially Coming to Kennesaw

This year I have the honor of serving as the Stormwater Committee Chairman. I believe citizen input is paramount to the discussion on how we as a community are to deal with our city's failing infrastructure. I believe that one of the most valuable assets of living in a city is that you have the opportunity to make changes right in your own backyard and have your voice heard. The stormwater committee has set up numerous meetings and we need your input.

The City of Kennesaw is looking into using a stormwater utility to fund the balance of significant infrastructure issues that need to be addressed.  A stormwater utility fee is a dedicated fee that can only be used to fund flood management and stormwater activities.

A stormwater utility is an organizational tool that provides for the planning and financing of the city’s infrastructure. The stormwater utility has a separate fund to account and budget for these infrastructure improvements within the cities existing governmental structure.

Stormwater utility fees are based on the share of stormwater runoff generated by each parcel of land within the city. The fees are designed to charge customers of the stormwater utility in reasonable proportion to their actual contribution of runoff to the stormwater system. Charges for the stormwater utility are based on the amount of impervious surface on a typical residential parcel in the city.

Impervious areas are surface areas that do not allow stormwater to soak into the ground, which includes areas paved with concrete, asphalt and areas covered by buildings.

An average home is about 3,000 square feet of impervious surface. For your commercial property’s specific impervious area, please contact Jon Whitmer at 770-421-8582 or jwhitmer@kennesaw-ga.gov. He is in charge of stormwater management for the city and can answer any of your specific questions.

The proposed fee structure of the stormwater utility provides equitable conditions for all property owners within the city and will affect every parcel of land. Costs for the utility are shared based on use and contribution rather than property value. This method also requires that all tax-exempt properties contribute to the utility, as many of these properties are large contributors to stormwater runoff.

There are four options in front of us as a community:

1. Do nothing and wait for another catastrophic system failure.
2. Increase Property Taxes and keep stormwater in the general fund.
3. Create a utility that is fair and equitable where all parcels of land contribute based on their impervious surface.
4. Create a utility that is fair and equitable where all parcels of land contribute based on their impervious surface and roll back the millage 1.0 mils (down to 8.5 from 9.5) to make the increase in the utility easier on our homeowners and businesses.  This option would require a cut in personnel and/or services in other areas of the city.

This utility will impact your business and your property financially. The city has not made any decisions on how to address this need. The city needs your input.  The city is looking to make a decision soon and be ready to go in October.

There are four upcoming community resident and stakeholder meetings:

Tuesday, March 19th Meeting 6:30pm at the Public Works building on Moon Station Road

3080 Moon Station Rd.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770) 421-8582

Thursday, March 21st Meeting  Noon at the Ben Robertson Community Center (lunch will be provided if you RSVP)

2753 Watts Dr.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770) 421-8582

Thursday, March 28th Meeting  Noon at the Ben Robertson Community Center (lunch will be provided if you RSVP)

2753 Watts Dr.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770) 421-8582

Thursday, April 18th Meeting at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers

2529 JO Stephenson Ave.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (770) 421-8582

The Public Works Department has set up a Stormwater page on the city website. It can be accessed here: http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/city-services/public-works/storm-water

If you would like to address the council, these are your best three options:

1. At a meeting 1st and 3rd Mondays at 6:30 or 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 6pm at City Hall Council Chambers
2. Via email at council@kennesaw-ga.gov or
3. By mail at 2529 JO Stephenson Kennesaw, GA 30144 attn: Debra Taylor, City Clerk