MITCHELL – The Mitchell City Council voted on Monday to adopt a stormwater fee for city residents and businesses, starting in May of 2024.
Discussions on this topic began during city council meetings in June 2022, with the council ultimately deciding on a $5 monthly fee for agricultural and residential properties and a $10 monthly fee for all others, including industrial properties and businesses.
Rather than being added to a monthly water bill, the annual total of the fee, which is $60 for residents, will be included in a property’s annual tax bill.
Based on the number of properties in the city, including around 2,000 homes, the fee is anticipated to generate around $157,000 annually for the city.
Based on an estimate from Midwestern Engineers in 2017, there are four key areas of Mitchell that need to be addressed to correct stormwater and flooding issues.
- Dale Street and Rabbitsville Road
- Walker Addition and Rabbitsville Road
- Helmar Acres
- Eden Lane Subdivision
According to Mitchell Mayor Nathan Jenkins, the Rabbitsville Road projects will need to be addressed first, as the issues there are slowing down the removal of the stormwater.
The total for those repairs at the time was estimated to be around $1.9 million, though those costs have likely increased significantly since.
The fee’s implementation allows the city to pursue grants that can help them cover these repair costs. Additionally, they could use the generated funds to pursue a revenue bond if needed.
