Eagan Business Council - Storm Water Drainage Utility Fees

As an advocate for business, Dakota County Regional Chamber wanted to inform you of a proposal that Eagan City Council is considering that could substantially increase your company’s utility fees for 2016.  Several options have been discussed and Council has directed staff to begin the process of planning for significant capital improvements over the next five years.  The improvements could increase your fees from 5% to nearly 50%, depending upon the size of your building and property lot; and this includes a Storm Water Drainage rate increase that could reach 66% in 2016.
 
Eagan has approximately 1,287 water bodies, and to take federally mandated corrective action on some of its largest lakes, it is going to cost significantly more money throughout the next five to seven years.  The current five-year CIP for Water Quality improvements indicates more than $12 million will need to be spent on a variety of capital improvement needs.  For example, several of Eagan's major lakes, including Fitz, LeMay, Carlson and Holz are considered impaired as defined by the EPA and will require treatment and investment in lake management plans.  Eighty percent (80%) of commercial/business accounts will see a Storm Water Drainage Fee increase of $5.00 to $247.81 per quarter.  The remaining 20%, or largest, commercial/business utility accounts will see a Storm Water Drainage Fee increase of $248.62 to $3,490.25 per quarter.
 
Please mark your calendars for a special meeting on this matter for Thursday, October 29 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at Eagan City Hall.  City staff will provide a brief presentation and be available to answer questions.  We will also look to you for feedback on this issue and perhaps discuss alternative rate increase schedules to address the proposed improvements.  We all recognize that Eagan’s water quality is important but $12 million is a hefty price to pay in such a short amount of time.