Politics & Government

Cities' Fight with Sewer District Heading to Court

Strongsville is among communities opposing proposed NEORSD fee

A battle between two dozen communities in Cuyahoga and Summit counties over a storm-water fee is heading to court.

The city in July joined the other communities in a against the fee sought by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

Negotiations between the two sides, mediated by County Executive Ed FitzGerald, have broken down.

Find out what's happening in Strongsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The trial is scheduled for Oct. 31.

agreed July 5 to pay $15,000 toward outside legal fees in the case, which seeks to thwart a stormwater management fee that would cost the average homeowner about $57 a year.

Find out what's happening in Strongsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

NEORSD is seeking an increase of about $14.25 per quarter to pay for a stormwater program to manage stream bank erosion, flooding and other issues, said Jeannie Chapman, public information specialist for NEORSD. 

The raise would be in addition to a recently approved 13 percent hike that will take effect in January. The typical suburban household will see its quarterly bills go from the current $90 to $157 in 2016.

Being contested by the cities is whether the proposed stormwater management charge is "a fee or an invalid tax," Strongsville Law Director Ken Kraus said.

The sewer district already won the first part of the case with a ruling in April that gave it authority to oversee regional storm water issues.

Now to be argued is whether the district can charge a fee to deal with those issues.

 

 


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