Residents in Peoria and Tazewell counties could start paying a stormwater utility fee late next year. It’s part of a measure signed by Governor Pat Quinn last month that creates a stormwater management committee for Peoria and Dupage Counties.
The committee can levy fees to improve storm sewer systems. Maggie Martino is with the Tri County Regional Planning Commission. She says some people won’t be happy, but creating a stormwater utility fee is worth it.
“As we become more urbanized we have more roads, driveways, roofs and the water has to go somewhere and the water has to be managed," says Martino. "In the past we have not managed that and it has eventually just gone into our streams and into the Illinois River where it has caused problems.”
Those problems include siltation and polluted runoff. Martino says the stormwater fees could range from 60 to 90-dollars a year per household. She says a separate fee would be established for schools and non-residential buildings.
Such a fee can be implemented by city councils, Peoria and Tazewell Counties. Those living in unincorporated Peoria County will need to approve any proposed fees in a referendum vote.