Wilson County board approves stormwater fee increases; effective March 1

Wilson County's governing panel voted Jan. 8 to alter the county's stormwater permit fee structure and to set the changes to take effect March 1. The board approved the measure by voice vote after staff described projected revenue increases and recommended capping the program's reserve fund.

The fee changes, as described by the presenter (Unidentified Speaker 5), include a $3.50 standard permit fee for residential structures and an increase in the commercial review fee from $0.10 to $0.15 per square foot. "I'm proposing making it $3.50," Speaker 5 said when discussing the residential permit proposal. Speaker 5 also told the board the county collected $77,178 under the existing structure for 2024 and that the proposed structure would significantly raise collections, helping cover an annual stormwater program budget the packet described as roughly $900,000.

Board members pressed for protections for small homeowners and accessory structures. Several members asked whether small sheds or garages would face the higher fee; Speaker 5 responded that accessory-structure inspection fees would remain at the current $2.14 rate. The motion adopted by a board member kept accessory-structure permits at $2.14 while applying the $3.50 fee to residential structures.

The board and staff also discussed how fees would be used to limit draws on the general fund. The presiding official noted that using fee revenue to cover the stormwater program would "free up $900,000 to go back into your general fund next year," language taken from the meeting discussion. Staff recommended capping the reserve balance and allowing fee revenue to make the stormwater program self-sustaining rather than relying on the general fund.

Officials agreed to a delayed implementation to give applicants and staff time to adjust: projects already in process and applicants who had paid under the prior rates would not be charged retroactively. Staff and the board agreed the new schedule would be effective March 1, with pipeline projects honored at previously paid rates. The board approved the changes by voice vote.

Next steps noted in the meeting packet included updated fee schedule sheets to be provided to the board and staff for distribution and public outreach to notify developers and residents. Staff also reported ongoing outreach efforts, including a countywide mailout to streamside neighbors and a planned presence at an upcoming builders expo in Mount Juliet.

The motion recorded at the meeting did not identify a named mover or seconder in the transcript; the decision was made by voice vote with affirmative responses recorded during the meeting.