[Mpls] Stormwatergate

[Mark Snyder]

I have not gotten the letter that has created such an uproar. However, I did
follow this issue when it first started getting coverage last year and so I
have a question:

Does the letter explaining the storm water utility fee also explain that the
sewer fee, which is currently set at a rate of $3.64 per "unit" will be
decreasing to $2.00 per "unit" and are people taking that into account when
figuring how this new fee will affect them?

There's more detail about this on the storm water utility fee FAQ page on
the city web site:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/what-we-do/Stormwater_FAQ.asp

So for me, someone who uses about three "units" of water per month, I'll
save almost five bucks on my sewer fee vs. whatever I'll pay for the storm
water fee, since I don't want to hazard a guess on how close my house is to
being considered a "typical-sized single-family residential property."

If it ends up being too much, I guess I'll spend some time this summer doing
some of that stuff that's suggested for earning a fee credit:

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/stormwater/what-we-do/Stormwater_Mngmnt_FeeC
redits.asp#TopOfPage

Mark Snyder
Windom Park

On 3/4/05 8:06 AM, "gemgram" <gemgram at mn.rr.com> wrote:

> The easiest solution to the worst part of "Stormwatergate" is simple.  Send
> a notice with the next water bill that says that the stormwater charge is
> done statistically, and if you do not have a large driveway or patio you
> probably are being overcharged; and to please check your actual square
> footage of hard surface and contact the City if they are overcharging you.
> Why is it so difficult for the "leaders" to find simple solutions instead of
> discriminating against poor community members?