• Starting January 1, 2023 - Your bill will reflect a $1.00 increase per Equivalent Rate Unit (ERU). The monthly service charge per ERU shall be three dollars ($3.00).
• January 1, 2024, the monthly service charge per ERU shall be three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50).
• January 1, 2025, the monthly service charge per ERU shall be four dollars ($4.00).

The reason for the stormwater rate increase is due to a need to replace existing failing infrastructure as well as EPA mandates of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

Conventionally developed residential property shall be billed one ERU. For more details check out Ordinance 2022-76 and Chapter 927 Stormwater Management of the City Codified Codes.

The NPDES permit ensures that the discharge follows all applicable state, and federal water pollution control laws and is protective of public health and safety. It helps address water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants to waters of the United States. 

The City of Tallmadge was in a joint permit with Summit County. In July 2021, the joint permit expired, and the City was offered two options moving forward. One, they could file their own permit, or two, grant Summit County authority over the communities MS4 regulations within its boundaries. With this, the County was going to start charging a fee of $4 per ERU to every property owner to be a member of the joint permit. The problem, is that funding would be lumped in one account for the entire County not just the City of Tallmadge. Therefore, in June 2021 the City opted to file its own permit.

Most of the mandates the City was already performing were part of the joint permit. However, we lose credits from the actions and programs the other municipalities were doing in the joint permit. Its in these areas Tallmadge will need to improve its actions. Such as Training and Development of City Employees, Education and Outreach or Tallmadge Residents, Post Construction Reporting, Stormwater Mapping and Improvements to the Housekeeping of City grounds.

The stormwater system of the City has multiple crossover pipes along its roadways. Crossovers are the main drainage culverts that the streets “crossover”. There has been a rise in replacement of these crossovers due to them failing. The reason for the failures is primarily based on the age of the infrastructure. Many of the roadways date back to the 1950’s. A 90-foot section of a crossover for N. Thomas Road is being estimated to cost $80,000 next year. 

Below is a chart of increases is cost and productivity in the stormwater system.