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GCS: Residents may get $125 fee to fund overdue stormwater projects

By Don Coble Managing Editor
Posted 11/20/19

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Many residents may get a new $125 fee on their next tax bill to fund much-needed, long-overdue stormwater projects.

The Green Cove Springs City Council held a special …

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GCS: Residents may get $125 fee to fund overdue stormwater projects


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Many residents may get a new $125 fee on their next tax bill to fund much-needed, long-overdue stormwater projects.

The Green Cove Springs City Council held a special session Tuesday night to figure out how to fund $7.5 million worth of infrastructure projects during the next 10 years, including areas that have been targeted for repairs or replacement for more than five years.

“It becomes the responsibility (of the city) to provide stormwater services to your residents,” said Robert Walpole, president of CHW, an engineering firm hired to help the city find solutions to its longstanding problems.”

CHW used 30 random single-family homes to calculate average square-footage inside city limits. That figure helped the company determine Green Cove Springs would need to collect $209 a year to fully-fund $750,000 a year to fully-fund projects during the next 10 years.

The city council asked CHW to expand its control group to 200 homes. The current standard was set at 2,400-square feet.

Councilman Van Royal quickly argued at $209, residents would feel “sticker shock.” Councilman Mitch Timberlake then made a motion to start the fee at $125 a month with three annual increases of $30 each to eventually reach the amount needed to make repairs.

That motion wasn’t seconded.

The council then voted 5-0 to approve a $125 fee on top of current $42 fee for normal utility operations. The proposal will be heard at a future council meeting, with possible approval set for January.

If approved, the council said it would re-address the fee in a year after CHW re-evaluates average square-footage and the city calculates how many residents are eligible for credits.

Repairs, however, can’t be ignored any longer, Timberlake said.

“We’ve got to go forward with this,” he said. “We’ve been pushing off these projects for years. There’s not a question in my mind these infrastructure projects have to be done.”

The city has a list of stormwater projects – many of which have been noted for more than five years. The are: West Street, Julia Street, Clay Street storm basin, St. Johns Avenue North, Ferris Street storm basin, Esplanade Avenue, Roberts Avenue, Highland Avenue South, Oakridge Avenue North and Vermont Avenue South.

In business during regular session, the council approved a 17% increase in wastewater rates and a 3% increase in water rates. The council also approved an ordinance that regulates short-term rentals in residential areas by limiting capacity and establishing minimum insurance standards.