Media Release

5:19 p.m.

 

ALACHUA COUNTY - On Thursday, September 7, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. in the Alachua County Commission Chambers there will be a public hearing of the Final Assessment Resolution for Stormwater Management.  The County Commission is urging the public to attend and participate in the public hearing.

 

Alachua County staff has identified various problem areas throughout the County which frequently flood and cause structural damage or accessibility issues.  In addition, water bodies within the County have been identified as being impaired or having water quality deficiencies based on state and federal regulatory criteria. 

 

Recognizing the significance of the flooding and the need to protect natural water bodies, specific guidelines in the 2001-2020 Comprehensive Plan (adopted 2005) call for better stormwater management.  The result of these guidelines is a Stormwater Management Program (SMP).

 

Staff has recommended the provision of a dedicated funding source in order to implement the SMP.  The funding mechanism proposed by County staff for the SMP, is a non-ad valorem assessment of each County parcel.  The assessment is based on the size of impervious areas, such as concrete driveways, within each parcel.

 

Four remaining public meetings planned in August will provide opportunities for public input and questions.  The meetings will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the following locations on the listed dates:

 

August 22 - Alachua County Fairgrounds - 2900 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville

August 24 - Santa Fe High School - 16331 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua

August 29 - Ft. Clarke Middle School - 9301 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville

August 31 - Kanapaha Middle School - 5005 SW 75th St., Gainesville

 

For additional information, please visit the SMP website at www.stormwater.alachua.fl.us or call the stormwater information hotline at (352) 264-7020.

 

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