Just months after successful re-election bids by the mayor and several city council members, residents here will have to dip into their bank accounts for a third time to pay a new or increased fee thanks to new, temporary storm water management fees.
The fees, approved in March, sparked some confusion, but a little effective communication may go a long way toward clearing up some confusion, Mayor Keith Soderquist said.
So far this year, Soderquist and the city council, which often agrees with the second-term mayor, approved a water rate increase and a sewage rate increase.
Soderquist, who enjoyed a resounding victory at last November’s polls, insisted he and the council chose to institute the new fees only after learning Lake Station’s voters wanted them for another term, and did not delay them to avoid jeopardizing votes by establishing the extra expenses during an election year.
“I waited to see if I was going to be mayor again so I could roll out my next four-year plan, and fees are part of that,” Soderquist said of the temporary storm water fees. “It’s up to the council to pass new fees, and no councilman would even consider any new rates in 2011 until they knew they had the public’s confidence for another term.”
The bills for the storm water fees — $100 per parcel for residential properties, $200 for businesses and $50 each for undeveloped parcels — were mailed along with 2011 property taxes payable in 2012 after a consultant’s study set the rates.
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The mayor also said the expected $500,000 to $600,000 the city will collect in storm water fees will be used to fund a new storm water management department and fund a more thorough study that will tell residents and property owners exactly what they owe going forward.
“We are spending tax money and fees and putting them back into the community,” Soderquist said. “In my opinion, that’s what people want.”
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Soderquist said an explanation of the storm water fee structure and the appeals process will be sent in July to every Lake Station owner as part of the monthly newsletter included with water bills.
