By David Purtell

david.purtell@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — An open house for people interested in learning about the town’s proposed stormwater utility will be held Wednesday evening at town hall.

The open house starts at 6 p.m. Different stations will provide information on what a stormwater utility is and why it’s needed, how can it be funded and what people can do to help keep the stormwater system clean.

Stormwater systems handle rainfall that doesn’t soak into the soil. Drains in a street curb or in a parking lot are part of the system. Finding a way to pay for improvements to the town’s system has been an issue for years.

The Board of Aldermen has been discussing an ordinance that would establish the utility, which is meant to fund improvements to the town’s stormwater system. Presently, the ordinance states the utility will be funded by fees paid by property owners.

Land parcels that have a single-family residential unit would be charged a flat rate — the town has been using the figure of $5 month for planning purposes.

Commercial parcels will be charged a fee based on the amount of impervious surface area — roofs, sidewalks, walkways, patios, driveway, parking lots, etc.—  the property has. For example, the parcel Food Lion sits on, with its parking lot, has a large amount of impervious surface area.

The board has already held two public hearings on the ordinance and the small number of people who spoke at the hearings said they opposed the fee and that they wanted for information about how the utility will work.

Contact Reporter David Purtell at 704-797-4264.