Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Trumbull County Regional Storm Water District?

It is a District formed by the Trumbull County Commissioners for ten townships and six municipalities considered as the urbanized area of the county. The District is assisted by the Storm Water Management Committee to provide technical services and by implementing the Trumbull County Storm Water Management Plan. The County Engineers office will serve as the County Drainage Engineer who along with the committee administers the Storm Water District. The District charges a drainage service fee to pay for technical, labor, support services, and even capital improvement projects.

Who makes up the Trumbull County Storm Water District?

It is a number of communities that met the criteria from the data of the 2000 census based on population density.  These are the following communities:  Bazetta Twp., Brookfield Twp., Champion Twp., Howland Twp., Hubbard Twp., Liberty Twp., Newton Twp., Vienna Twp., Warren  Twp., Weathersfield Twp., Cortland City, Girard City, Hubbard City, Newton Falls City, Niles City and the Village of McDonald.  (The City of Warren is not included because they have their own Storm Water utility district which already receives their own drainage service fee.)

Who makes up the Trumbull County Storm Water Management Committee?

It is a conglomerate of Trumbull County Agencies working together.  Representatives from the Trumbull County Engineers Office, Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Trumbull County Planning Commission, Data Department, General Health District, Prosecutors Office and Sanitary Engineers Office.

What is the action plan or goal of this Trumbull County Storm Water Committee?

They are a technical, task-oriented action committee that was formed in 2002 to implement the Trumbull County Storm Water Management Program by providing assistance with Storm Water, drainage, flooding, development, septic, and water quality issues in the regional Storm Water district. The committee reviewed and investigated funding sources for this type of service.

What is a Drainage Service Fee?

A Drainage Service Fee is a fee associated to the amount that is relative to the operations, services, and benefits of the district.  It is not a tax.  The legal description per the Trumbull County Prosecutors office is a “service charge”, which is solely for the costs and services provided. 

What is the Drainage Service Fee in one of the ten urbanized townships?

The Drainage Service Fee will be $2.50 per month per EHU or $30.00 per year because they are both tier (1) and tier (2) communities.  Tier (1) fees are used for technical, labor, and support services, and tier (2) fees are for community specific capital improvement projects.

What is the Drainage Service Fee in one of the six urbanized municipalities?

The Drainage Service Fee will be $1.25 per month per EHU or $15.00 per year because they are only tier (1) communities. It is cheaper than the townships fee because municipalities already have existing capital improvement service fees, or can enact them on their own, unlike the townships, which must rely on the County’s approval.  (The City of Warren is not included because they have their own Storm Water utility district which already receives their own drainage service fee.)

Are there other communities in the United States that also have drainage fees?

Yes, the average service fee surveyed from 430 districts was $3.82 per month or $45.84 per year. 

What is the methodology behind the Drainage Service Fee?

Equivalent Hydrologic Units (EHU) was selected by CT Consultants and approved by the Storm Water Management Committee as the methodology for setting the number of Storm Water billing units for each property.  It was felt that it provides a more fair structure than other options. This method sets a value for residential properties and a proportionally higher value for commercial and industrial based on acreage and EPA runoff coefficients.

Since the methodology mentions its calculations are based on acreage will a farm be charged more money?

No, Agricultural property will be charged (1) EHU, which is the same as a residential dwelling or lot.  Acreage does not affect the fee for residential or agriculture landowners.

 Will apartment tenants or renters have to pay the Service Drainage Fee?

No, the service drainage fee will only be billed to the property owner.  The property owner may however pass part of that cost along to its tenants or renters depending on the terms of rental or lease agreements.  The user fee will be based on the number of units because all residents utilize the roads and drainage systems that must be maintained by the district. 

What are the billing classes and units for nonresidential developed property and are there maximum billing caps?

Yes there are caps.

Will vacant land or property with improvements of less than $10,000.00 be charged this Service Drainage Fee?

No, these properties do not create the runoff that is produced by impervious surfaces and stress the Storm Water systems.  Once improvements are made on vacant property that total over $10,000.00, a service drainage fee will be assessed to the property.

Will non-profit organizations like schools, churches and government buildings be charged this fee?

Yes, much like these organization now pay for water, sanitary sewer, or lighting services, they will pay the Drainage Service Fee based on acreage and EPA runoff coefficients.

If my community brings in more revenue for capital improvement or tier (2), will the other communities benefit from my townships funds?

No, capital improvement funds will only be spent within the community they are raised.  One community will not be able to spend another’s funds.  It is only community specific funds for their specific drainage improvements. 

How can a township spend their capital improvement portion of the funds?

A community must apply to the district and receive approval from the Drainage Engineer for the monies available from their community specific funds.  It can be spent on services for construction, reconstruction, repair or maintenance of any drainage facility within a said community.  These monies can also be spent toward sanitary sewer lines installation, land acquisition, and match money for Clean Ohio Grants and Issue #2.  This way the funds can be used for community specific problems or issues as identified locally.

What ten (10) Townships Fall under the Trumbull County Regional Storm Water District?

Bazetta, Brookfield, Champion, Howland, Hubbard, Liberty, Newton, Vienna, Warren and Weathersfield Townships fall under the Trumbull County Storm Water District.

What six (6) municipalities fall under the Trumbull County Regional Storm Water District?

The City of Cortland, Girard, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Niles and the Village of McDonald fall under the Trumbull County Regional Storm Water District.  (The City of Warren is not included because they have their own Storm Water utility district, which already receives their own drainage service fee.)

Why can’t county general funds be used to cover the cost?

The counties, townships and municipalities’ general budgets are already strained. There isn’t any room in the current budgets to pay for the additional cost of improving, maintaining and repairing drainage systems or to address the proper measures to alleviate flooding, drainage and pollution issues.

Is this just another tax?

No, it is a Service Drainage Fee based on the amount of Storm Water runoff a property adds to the Storm Water system.  This is equivalent to the user fee one must pay for sanitary sewer, water systems, or lighting districts.

What is the District Oversight Committee?

A District Oversight Committee is responsible for hearing and making determinations in open public sessions on any appeal by property owners to the rate calculations on their property, and to issue credits if warranted to commercial, industrial and institutional Storm Water quantity and quality improvements. This committee will also hear and make determinations on appeals in open public sessions from members of the Townships on requests for tier (2) drainage projects or drainage facilities.