Speedway council adopts stormwater fee, delays start to April after public comment

The Speedway Town Council on Jan. 12 adopted Ordinance 14 20 to establish a stormwater user fee, approving a residential rate of $3.77 (about $45.24 annually per residential account) and an amended effective date of April 1. The measure passed 4–1 after public comment and council discussion about timing and impact.

Town manager Grant Kleinheins told the council the stormwater management board recommended the $3.77 residential fee and that the proposed program would create an annual budget of approximately $500,000 to pay for capital and maintenance work. He said a 2024 study identified about $1,500,000 of stormwater-related work the town faces, and that the proposed fee reflects a compromise from earlier, higher recommendations.

During the public hearing, Dakota Faulkner, who identified themself as president of the Speedway Democrats but said they were speaking for themselves, urged the council to reconsider the structure and burden of the fee on residents. “Even this $45.24 a year to a low-income person is a significant amount,” Faulkner said, urging the council to pursue grant funding and to ask large commercial users to shoulder more of the cost.

Council discussion focused on timing, fairness and the program’s scope. Clerk-treasurer Philip Faust said he would not vote for the fee in the event of a tie, arguing that once new utility fees are added they ‘‘never go away’’ and advising caution on the start date. Other council members said the town has aging infrastructure and the fee will create a dedicated funding stream rather than shifting costs onto wastewater or general funds.

Council amended the ordinance at the meeting to change the effective date from March 1 to April 1 to allow administrative adjustments; the final motion to adopt the ordinance with the amended start date passed 4–1. The ordinance establishes the fee structure and directs the town to use the revenue for stormwater program expenses, including personnel and capital improvements.

Next steps: the ordinance is adopted as amended; staff will implement billing changes to begin the fee on April 1 and continue public outreach on the program and planned capital work.