Stormwater Management Utility

Just back from the "open public meeting" discussing the proposed stormwater utility district and fee. Boy, were there a lot of hacked off people! Seems as though many people are frustrated by the lack of responsiveness of the departments that are now in charge of dealing with stormwater issues. People with cisterns and others are not happy at the prospect of paying $3.81 per month for the new utility. Many concerns centered around the fact that the county seemingly rubberstamps development plans without enforcing provisions of existing stormwater regulations.

Many residents blamed other parts of government for allowing the current problems to occur. Dissenters of the proposal frequently blamed the county's rapid growth for negatively altering the environment. Most agreed with McManus that problems with standing water and creek and ditch overflows are a problem, but were displeased that the burden of funding a solution might fall on the residents who lived here long before most developments.

County leaders were blamed on more than one occasion for allowing the problems to occur without offering accountability. Commissioners Bob Proud and Mary Walker attended the meeting along with County Administrator David Spinney, who twice stepped in front of the podium to clarify speakers' concerns or defend the county's actions.

See the article quoted above in its entirety at: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS01/702240321

Speaking of "defending"... the mighty eloquent Mary Walker in a burst of defensiveness stood up and squarely put a resident in her place after the resident stated that during her experience she had difficulty in having County staff and elected officials return her calls and correspondence. Apparently, even though the comment by the resident was vague and addressed the entire county apparatus, Walker took it as a personal insult. Poor Mary.

The proposed stormwater utility will have the authority to inspect and maintain the system, but not to ENFORCE. Unfortunately, that duty falls on the shoulders of the current structure -- the structure which was so clearly identified as being INEPT! Can anyone tell me how the Chief Building Offical got his job? Which commissioner is he related to?? I am dying to know.