Rockford to pay settlement in storm water complaint

Rockford officials say the city will pay nearly $330,000 to settle a complaint that the city violated clean water standards on storm water that runs into area rivers and streams That agreement is expected to be approved Monday night by the City Council. The agreement calls for the city to pay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state as well as set storm water management requirements that must be met to avoid further penalties. The cost of maintaining a storm sewer system that meets the standards of the Clean Water Act is expected to be more than $5 million a year - an expense that City Legal Director Patrick Hayes says the city has already taken on this year.