After fielding an outpouring of calls from residents, Latrobe officials are looking for ways to soften the impact a new stormwater management fee might have on property owners experiencing hardships.

“We’ve received a lot of calls from people who have either lost their job or are on a fixed income,” City Manager Michael Gray said. “We’re looking at ways we can help those individuals.”

Initial payment of the annual fee of $90 per equivalent residential unit is due by March 31, according to city regulations. Gray said offering an alternate payment plan or other relief might require approval of an ordinance amendment. He said he is working on establishing criteria for determining qualifying hardships.

He told council members he expects to present recommendations for offering some relief at their Feb. 22 agenda meeting.

Simply ignoring the bill is not a good option for residents, Gray said. “If you don’t pay the fee, you could be subject to a lien on your property,” he explained.

Collection of the new fee is meant to help the city meet state and federal mandates for better controlling stormwater and, ultimately, reducing sediment that flows into Loyalhanna Creek. The city is required to reduce the sediment by 10% annually over five years, at an estimated cost of about $2.1 million.

Gray pointed out owners, once weather permits, can consider offsetting a portion of the stormwater fee by adding stormwater control measures on their property.

“You’re never going to not be charged a fee for the program, but you can do things to help reduce it,” he said.

Owners of a property with a single-family dwelling could knock 5% off the fee either by installing one or more rain barrels or by planting two trees of a native species and specified size within 25 feet of an area, such as a driveway, that has an impervious surface.

A 10% fee reduction would apply for a homeowner installing a rain garden or for a school that incorporates stormwater issues into its curriculum, Gray said.

“We have to show (state officials) how we’re reducing sediment,” he said. “If we can get the community to help do some of these best-management practices, the end result is helping to reduce the sediment.”

Property owners can find out more about the city’s stormwater program by visiting cityoflatrobe.com and selecting “Code enforcement/Zoning” under the “City Services” heading or by inquiring at the city municipal building.

Garbage fee up by 2%

The new stormwater charge is included in an updated schedule of various city fees council approved Monday. The city also is raising quarterly garbage fees by 2%, in step with the increased rate it is paying to hauler Republic Services under a five-year contract.

Those who have their trash picked up in bags will pay a new quarterly rate of $67.32, plus an unchanged sticker fee of 40 cents per bag. The quarterly fee is rising to $82.62 for those who use a larger “toter” container to have their garbage collected.

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