Chattanooga Pulse

It was a standing-room-only crowd at Chattanooga City Council chambers Thursday afternoon.  A public meeting was held concerning the recent stormwater quality fee increase imposed by the city.

Mayor Ron Littlefield and several city and state engineers explained to the crowd of mostly-businessmen why the increase was necessary.

Un-funded mandates have come down from the EPA forcing expensive upgareds to the way the city handles rainwater runoff.

Littlefield used Atlanta and Birmingham as examples of what can happen if the city does nothing.

Littlefield revealed that beyond the appeal process, business-owners could receive credits against the fee by making improvements in the way run-off is handled on their property.

Many in the audience felt that the credit fell far short of the expense of making these improvements.

The city council will consider the public comments, but hold out little hope of reducing the fee.