OSAWATOMIE — Osawatomie voters decide today whether they want to create a city stormwater utility. Charter Ordinance 13 would allow the city to establish a stormwater fee. That fee would be used to help pay for the city’s effort to certify the city levee system and storm water drainage improvements. The city will have to pay $400,000 to certify the levee or face huge increases in flood insurance premiums. Osawatomie mayor Phil Dudley told the Osawatomie Journal that the city is facing federal mandates to deal with storm water and has little choice. Council member John Farley told the Journal he’s opposed to the proposal because the purpose and cost of the utility are unclear. Voters had rejected a stormwater utility fee in an earlier election.
Monday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.
