By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council could re-adress the city’s stormwater utility fee in the future. A request was made by Councilwoman Sara Bagwell to put the matter onto the agenda for making changes to the fee, which has been in place since 2016.
“I would like that we address the staff to come up with something for us in a future agenda on how we can reduce that to become more competitive without eliminating it,” Bagwell said. “And I would like to have staff give us some options.”
Councilman John Richardson also wanted to know if there was a way to get other departments involved to see if there can not only be a utility fee reduction, but maybe even some incentives to companies that take steps to reduce stormwater runoff.
"Do you think that we could get some ideas between Mr. (Jeff) Peterson with engineering, Mr. (Ryan) Hvitlok and possibly Izzy (Rivera) in regards to planning and zoning requirements that affect the stormwater impact on certain properties?” Richardson asked. “And possibly working into a reduction or a benefit to properties that have to do some of those planning and zoning updates that have a positive impact on stormwater.”
City Manager Jeff Cantrell noted that making any changes to the utility fee would require much more discussion than just an agenda item during a council meeting.
“I don’t think we can cover all of this in just a regular council meeting agenda item. I think it's a work session item,” Cantrell said. “There is a lot of history to it that really, in all fairness, you should all be aware of.”
Bagwell asked that the city come up with at least two proposals for reducing the fee before the council meets for a possible study session.
“I don’t want to know just about the way we’re doing it and history,” Bagwell said. “I want at least two options of how we can restructure it and what that budgetary impact would be.”
Cantrell said that it would take around 30 days to come up with information and possible proposals in dealing with the utility.
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