Public hearings on proposed Berkeley County ‘Stormwater Management Fee’ Thursday

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The public has two chances to weigh in Thursday on a proposal to institute Storm Water Management Tariffs in Berkeley County.

At issue is a proposed $4.75 a month fee that would be assessed to anyone on the county’s public water or sewer system.

Del. Tom Bibby

“What’s driving this fee or tax is, we’re told that the EPA is going to sue the county to the tune of something like, there’s pages of violations that they’re going to sue for about $55,000 a day,” said Delegate Tom Bibby (R-Berkeley, 62).

Bibby said on Wednesday’s Panhandle Live the county voluntarily became part of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, or MS-4 program, with the EPA in 2004 and is hoping to create a revenue stream to handle fines.

Bibby said he has some concerns about the County Council’s attempt to create a separate Storm Water District.

“The impact of that fee – it only went to people who were either on Berkeley County Sewer or Berkeley County Water or both. If you were on well and septic you were not going to be billed for this.”

Bibby said he has been told county leaders ‘have made an attempt’ to remove themselves from the MS-4 agreement.

The public hearings are set for 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Berkeley County Council Chambers at 400 West Stephen Street, Suite 205.

Story by Marsha Chwalik/Panhandle News Network