Stormwater plan needs more work

House editorial / News Virginian
Published: July 27, 2007

Finding solutions to Waynesboro's flooding problem is not a question of need or want. It is clearly a necessity.

And necessities cost money, lots of it, for a problem of this magnitude. Somebody has to foot the bill, and it makes sense that much of the burden would fall on businesses, particularly large companies, rather than on homeowners whose resources are comparatively much more limited.

However, city plans to saddle businesses with much of $1.4 million in annual stormwater fees are problematic.

By its nature, business is results-oriented. Enterprises large and small fail when company owners, CEOs and merchants fail to mind bottom lines.

So when business leaders such as South River Complex Manager Sharon Plemmons press city officials for an explanation of how businesses will benefit from shelling out thousands of dollars a year in stormwater fees, they deserve an answer.

Nobody provided one Tuesday when Plemmons and others packed a public hearing on the topic.
No wonder some business owners have hired a lawyer to plead their case.

While no amount of money can prevent the South River from flowing over its banks, merchants, company owners and townspeople alike need and deserve to see a concrete plan for safeguarding homes and businesses before parting with their money.

Further, city officials must balance consideration of the fees' impact on businesses against the program's benefits to the community.

One plan would have the city's largest employer, Invista, paying more than $240,000 in annual fees despite the fact that the fibers manufacturer maintains its own $6.4 million stormwater system.

Company officials have been decidedly restrained in their public criticism of the plan, but union representatives have fretted about potential layoffs or even a pullout.

The city's position is an unenviable one. Neither cheap solutions nor quick fixes are available. And nobody's eager to pick up the check.

Yet doing nothing should not be considered an option. We applaud the city for tackling the difficult problem of flooding. But we think far more work - and a clearer explanation of the benefits - is sorely needed.