Lock Haven council directs staff to draft stormwater fee ordinance, councilmember moves $100 ERU starting point

A majority of Lock Haven City Council on Thursday directed staff to include a $100 equivalent residential unit (ERU) as a starting figure in a draft stormwater management ordinance, after a lengthy presentation and discussion about billing mechanics, credits and the program's scope.

The presentation explained that the city could collect a dedicated stormwater fee without establishing a separate entity, and staff recommended billing the charge quarterly through the existing utility billing system for customers inside city limits. Staff characterized the overall program as covering street sweeping, stormwater pipe and curb repairs and other stormwater‑specific expenses now in the general fund. An engineer’s scenarios presented three fee options and estimated a long‑term program cost in the roughly $1.31 million range for comprehensive work.

Why it matters: Staff and council said the fee would create a stable, dedicated revenue stream for capital and emergency stormwater repairs, lessen pressure on the general fund and allow planning for multi‑component projects (water, sewer, stormwater and paving) to be coordinated rather than repeatedly tearing up streets.

Council debate focused on who would pay, how to bill and whether to offer credits. Staff said the fee would apply only to customers inside city limits and could be billed on existing quarterly water/sewer bills for those customers. For commercial properties staff proposed using ERU/EDU equivalents based on impervious area to scale charges. Staff also said state code templates require municipalities to provide credits or exemptions for best management practices installed on private property, for example retention basins or properly installed rain barrels; those credits would be defined in the ordinance and verified by public works staff.

Council member (speaker 6) said he favored a figure that would yield tangible work in year one and stated, “I would I could support the hundred dollar EORU,” which the council used as the directional number for the draft ordinance. Other council members raised the administrative cost of verifying credits (for example, inspecting rain barrels) and emphasized the need for clear credit rules in the draft.

The council made clear the vote was to provide direction for ordinance drafting and not to adopt the ordinance or set a final fee. Staff said collections would not begin until 2023 and that annual adjustments could be made by council resolution as part of the budget process. Next steps: staff will draft the ordinance including the $100 ERU starting figure, propose credit/discount language consistent with the Second Class Township code examples cited, and return to council for public discussion and a formal vote on any ordinance.