JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The City of Jamestown will consider recommendations made by AE2S regarding the Stormwater Utility study and potential utility fees to help with system upkeep.

Kevin Smith is a Municipal Management Specialist with AE2S. He informed the Stormwater Committee Thursday evening that after communicating with the City and studying the community, they have found that a costs is being accrued from the usage of the stormwater system in Jamestown.

Smith says the concept of stormwater utilities is newer with other states being further along than North Dakota with implementation. He says maintaining a dedicated source of funding is a way to keep up on the stormwater system. Smith pointed out that they were working on a minimum/flat residential rate to simplify rate structure and billing with a majority of residential seeing a fee of between $3 to $4.

Right now, about 6 communities implement stormwater utility rates. Smith says he estimates around $500,000 of revenue generated from their billing plan for the city, which would just be set aside for maintenance on the stormwater system.

Because the item was informational, no decision was made to approve or deny the AE2S recommendations. AE2S will be continuing with some final items before coming to the council with the final recommendation.