Letters to the editor

Three steps to stormwater solution

A new stormwater authority may do a lot to solve the stormwater and flooding problems in our community, but imposing fees on those who already have properly functioning detention ponds is unfair.

There are acres and acres of pavement in this city that drain directly into our storm systems and waterways. This is the source of the problem. There are also a number of local, qualified surveying and engineering firms adversely affected by the lull in the housing market that could be employed to solve the problem.

Here is a solution:

1. Allow time before imposing the fees for those who already have detention facilities to "certify" them, proving that they meet or exceed the standard. A certification fee, plus smaller annual fees could be imposed for the purpose of funding the program. This should not be a lengthy process since public works already has standards and topographic data for the entire city.

2. Outsource the certification process to local, qualified engineers rather than hiring a host of new city employees.

3. Use the certification process to encourage those who don't have detention ponds to get one and pay lower fees, and the higher fees to fund a regional pond in lieu of getting one.

We all realize there are serious, sometimes life-threatening stormwater and flooding issues in Waynesboro. But you still hear property owners say, "How will this benefit me-" when clearly the intent is to benefit the community of which we are all a part. It is understandable, however, when a business objects after having invested millions of dollars in a working detention system only to have to pay hundreds of thousands more to fix a problem to which they are not contributing. It should further be understood that local businesses experienced in solving these problems should be called on to assist.

Dave Segars
Waynesboro

EDITOR'S NOTE: The writer is a professional engineer at Waynesboro-based Segars Engineering.