Stormwater Utility Fee

Overview

The City of Kearney operates under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ). The regulators of this MS4 Permit are the NDEQ and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The City currently incurs expenses and will incur more expenses in the future to comply with the EPA’s Administrative Enforcement of the regulations. The fee is $2.00 per month for residential properties and $6.00 per month for non-residential properties.

Ordinance No. 8127

This Ordinance establishes a Stormwater Utility to assist the City in its responsibility for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of stormwater drainage system facilities; to provide adequate systems of collection, conveyance, detention, treatment, and release of stormwater and the reduction of potential hazards to property and life resulting from stormwater runoff; improvement in general health and welfare through the reduction of undesirable stormwater conditions and improvements to the water quality in the storm and surface water system and its receiving waters. This Ordinance directly addresses several topics including:

• Program Responsibility
• Operating Budget
• Surcharge Fee Schedule
• Bills
• Delinquent Accounts

The Ordinance also establishes a monthly stormwater surcharge fee for residential and non-residential properties beginning in April 2017. This stormwater surcharge fee will generate money for the stormwater utility, personnel costs, operating costs, and capital costs.

Proper stormwater management is needed to help reduce the amount of non-point source pollution that enters our local waters, especially if we are to keep them safe for recreational activities like kayaking, canoeing, swimming, etc. We all must share the responsibility of proper stormwater management. All properties with impervious surfaces generate stormwater runoff.