Meeting To Explain Changes To Storm Water Utility Fee

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marion County residents are invited to the second of two informative meetings explaining the city’s new method for assessing storm water usage fees.  

The City County Council approved the new rate adjustment to storm water utility fees last year and now many Indianapolis residents will begin to see changes to their bills. 

Up until now residents have paid a flat fee that isn’t enough to cover current storm drainage issues and water quality improvements needed.  Indianapolis Department of Public Works Spokesman Benjamin Easley says changes will allow the city to start upgrading the system.

"We hope to expedite in the next five years a list of about $81 million in high priority projects that we’d like to address and this rate adjustment will help us get those projects kick-started," said Easley.

In 2012, an assessment identified more than 380 flooding or drainage problems, adding up to about $320 million in storm water infrastructure needs.

The new fees are calculated by how much impervious, or watertight surfaces you have on your property.  At Thursday night’s meeting, DPW staff will be on hand to demonstrate a new online tool that lets customers search their property by address. 

DPW says they receive about 20,000 storm water related complaints every year.  Thursday night’s meeting starts at 5:30 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on North Meridian Street.