Emporia city commissioners revisited a possible funding stream for stormwater drainage improvements in town.
Former City Engineer Mike Novak presented results of a study they’ve done on equivalent residential units (or ERUs), which would guide how each property owner is assessed a fee on stormwater. The research determined the average home in Emporia has 3,000 square feet of so-called impermeable surfaces such as rooftops, sidewalks and driveways which would be equal to one ERU. City Commissioner Rob Gilligan says the idea is that every residential and commercial property owner would pay the same rate per space times however many ERU’s they have.
This would set up a utility fee to support more regulations stormwater control and to help avoid flooding issues. City commissioners believe it would generate enough revenue to fix some major drainage concerns.
City commissioners are planning to move forward with implementation possible as early as Jan. 1, 2019 and plan to engage public conversation on the matter.
City commissioners also will continue to gather more information from area veterinarians as they look into a potential tethering ordinance for dogs in city limits. The Humane Society of the Flint Hills and city staff have drafted a proposal that would prohibit tethering a dog for more than two continuous hours and for more than four total hours per day. There are concerns about how the ordinance may affect dog owners without fences or who may have no other option than to tether when they leave for work. Talks of increasing the time limit to four hours or possibly implementing a 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tethering ordinance similar to an ordinance in Overland Park were suggested as possible alternatives. Currently, the city of Emporia has no ordinance that specifies how long a dog can be tethered outside. No action is expected on an ordinance until possibly later this year
The Emporia City Commission will meet again in an action session at 7 p.m. May 16.
