LOWELL | The town is moving forward with plans to charge stormwater fees to property owners to cover the cost of federal mandates.
The Town Council said the Lowell Stormwater Management Board will meet on the subject at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26, followed by a Lowell Town Council session at 7. The public is urged to attend to learn more and voice opinions on the proposed fees.
In September, the council heard the board's recommendation that the fees suggested by financial consultant Greg Guerretaz be established.
As suggested by Guerretaz of Financial Solutions Group, residential customers would be charged $7 monthly and nonresidential, including schools, would be charged no more than $28 a month.
Since 1990, the federal government has been working toward mandated controls of stormwater. The controls will abate flooding and address the results of increased development.
A 2003 law established requirements for municipalities, including Lowell.
Greg Shook, Lowell Public Works Director, said the fees will pay for costs incurred and ongoing costs to meet the requirements.
Shook said the expense to the town, spread across various departments, will be clearer Nov. 26.
In the meantime, the council agreed to buy a street sweeper for $200,000 over a five-year term at 2.34 percent interest.
The street sweeper, Shook said, is required by federal mandates on stormwater management. He said the town must sweep its streets to better control that which goes into catch basins, then document street by street the nature of the debris collected.
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