Questions continue to come in about the new stormwater fees being collected in Bradford City.

The city started imposing the fee at the end of July to property owners to raise funding to operate and maintain the stormwater system.

The Bradford Sanitary Authority, which has taken on the task of stormwater management, is responding to residents’ concerns.

“Residents want to know more about how the rates were established and why they need to pay them,” explained Rick Brocius, executive director of the Bradford Sanitary Authority.

The fees, according to Brocius, are related to the projected cost of managing Bradford’s stormwater system.

“Before establishing the rates, the Bradford Sanitary Authority projected its budget through 2021,” he said. “Projections were made based on past expense history and anticipated needs to maintain the current level of service. The projected budget called for potential expenses totaling $640,000 in 2017 and approximately $520,000 per year through 2021.

“The authority hopes to realize revenue of $277,000 for the last two quarters of the year (based on the billing that is currently underway), but it is unlikely they will be able to do so once delinquencies and credits are factored into the equation.”

Residents want to know, too, how the fees that are collected will be used.

“The current level of service would best be defined as reacting to emergencies and addressing problems as they occur,” said Brocius. “A more proactive approach to maintaining the system before problems develop can save money over the long term, so the Bradford Sanitary Authority is assessing the condition of system assets and preparing a 10-year plan for capital improvements.”

He explained that spending money to make improvements before problems arise will lower the long-term cost for customers.

“It will also ensure that the fees property owners pay are invested where they’re needed most,” he said.

One of the first steps in improving the stormwater system will be to assess its current condition.

“Assessing the condition of the storm water system facilities involves video recording the interior of various system assets to look for repair and maintenance needs, vacuuming catch basins and lines, and digitally mapping the location of all facilities,” he said. “Accurate mapping lowers the cost of future design and construction work when upgrades or repairs are necessary by preventing change orders.”

The asset management program will help the authority prioritize and plan projects and estimate future funding needs, according to Brocius.

“An effective asset management program like this maximizes the return on city residents’ investment and is key to potentially qualifying for future grant opportunities,” he said.

Brocius said another questions several people have asked is “why they need to pay their stormwater bill if the runoff flows directly to a stream without entering the public stormwater system.

“In this case, it needs to be noted that all streams in the city connect to the flood control system. The authority contributes to the cost of managing this flood control system, and, in doing so, it incurs an operating expense,” he explained. “Thus, revenue from all bills supports the need for stream restoration, improvement work, and maintenance of the flood control system. The rate resolution approved by the city and the authority identifies the same payment terms and consequences as is commonly defined for water and sewer utility services.”

By taking on stormwater management responsibilities, the Bradford Sanitary Authority has taken on the responsibility to keep local waters clean.

“Federal, state, county, and local laws charge the Bradford Sanitary Authority with protecting and managing the water quality in our local streams,” he said. “This is no different than what the authority has been doing for decades, managing the wastewater treatment plant and maintaining the sanitary sewer collection system. Several local streams have been listed as ‘impaired’ or ‘non-attaining,’ which adds additional regulatory requirements for the authority to properly manage stormwater. These additional requirements involve additional cost, and everyone who contributes stormwater to the system must help cover that cost.”

Property owners can take steps to lessen their fees, according to Brocius. “Property owners can … take steps to reduce the rate and volume of runoff from their property — or by improving the water quality of that runoff.

“These steps reduce the authority’s overall cost to maintain the system, so it passes the savings on to its customers in the form of credits that reduce individual property owners’ stormwater fees.”

Last week, the authority posted its credit policy under the “Stormwater” menu on its website, bradfordsanitary.com.

“This manual provides a good overview of what property owners can do to reduce their impact on the system and earn credits,” he said. “It also includes a simple, one-page ‘Appeal Form’ for property owners who wish to question their impervious area assessment or who believe that they have received a bill for property they no longer own.”

Brocius noted that the fee is being used to pay for a service that is provided to property owners.

He understands that residents are hesitant to pay another fee but indicated the Bradford Sanitary Authority is ready for the task of using those fees wisely.

Brocius said, “We recognize that a new stormwater utility bill is not popular with everyone. Given the age of the stormwater system, the development that has occurred in the area since it was built, and how the lines were sized at that time, it is obvious that repairs and improvement are needed. What the authority can deliver is a level of service that will restore and improve the system maximizing every revenue dollar to that purpose.”