Decorah City Council discusses new storm water utility for city

The Decorah City Council was in session on Monday to discuss an ordinance to establish a new Storm Water Utility for the city of Decorah.

The ordinance will implement a new utility fee for runoff and storm water drainage, which is subject to per use charge categories based on residential, commercial and industrial habitations. The ordinance is written to take effect on September 1 although billing would begin sometime in December, pending hearings.

Recommendations for this utility come from a study of storm water issues in the community by the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities at the University of Iowa.

Decorah staff has previously held two public meetings regarding the proposed utility. Only one resident was in attendance for the two evenings of hearings.