Commission Asks City to Ease Storm Water Fees

Is the city's new storm water fee chasing businesses away?

County commissioners Thursday expressed their concern about the tripled fee that sent shock waves through a business community still struggling with recession.

More on the gathering storm over water quality fees.

County commissioners are warning Chattanooga officials that the storm water fee that tripled last summer is going to drive business into north Georgia and nearby counties.

MICHAEL GRANT, GRANT NEIL ELECTRIC CO. " I hate to see Hamilton county lose that, because that's local dollars..but right now we can't compete with those people coming in from those areas."

Michael Grant's bill for handling the storm water went up 350-percent, to 29-hundred dollars.

BILL HULLANDER, COUNTY COMMISSIONER "Some of these places..its gone up thousands of dollars.

For homeowners, the fee goes up from 36 to 155 dollars, but even churches are feeling the pressure. At Mountain Creek Baptist, two pieces of property will cost 18-hundred dollars.

PASTOR TYLAN BLANSIT, MOUNTAIN CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH "This does have a big impact on what we can and can't do..especially if it's going to be increasing..it will hinder our ability to grow."

LARRY HENRY, COUNTY COMMISSIONER "I had a call from a church this last week..they're in the same dilemna..they'll be able to do it but it's going to put a hardship on them."

DR. RICHARD CASAVANT, COUNTY COMMISSIONER "The storm water fee is not deductible on your federal income tax...like property taxes are."

Bill Raines runs a real estate and management company, but he sees the impact at his office at Four Squares.

BILL RAINES, REAL ESTATE "Last year it was 41-hundred dollars, this year 14-thousand, 500 dollars..a ten thousand dollar increase..without any forewarning and I'm not sure where it's going."

Mayor Claude Ramsey says he understands Mayor Littlefield's mandate from EPA, but---

CLAUDE RAMSEY, COUNTY MAYOR "I'm going to ask him to get with his people and see if that could be reduced considerably and if an increase is necessary that it be phased in at a much slower rate."

City officials admit that storm water management has not been properly funded over the years.

EPA can levy heavy fines on communities that don't comply with the strict regulations.