Idea for stormwater authority draws heat from York County public

“If that Chesapeake Bay was going to die, it would already be dead,” one man shouted.

A public meeting about creating a York County stormwater authority to help clean up local streams and the Chesapeake Bay turned heated Tuesday night with some residents telling officials they don’t want to pay a new “tax.”

Members of the York County Planning Commission and its consultant, JMT, spent the first hour of the meeting at the York Learning Center explaining to a crowd of 120 that the authority would work to reduce pollution from entering the local creeks and streams, which ultimately flow into the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.

It also would address problems, such as the recent flooding, which resulted in homes being destroyed and roads being washed out. The total operating budget would be $12.6 million.

If the county doesn’t do a better job of cleaning up streams, different laws can be imposed, said Felicia Dell, director of the York County Planning Commission.

To help pay for the authority and projects, residents, farmers and business owners would have to pay a yearly fee. The proposal calls for $48.50 for each residential parcel; $48.50 plus $9 per “tillable” acre for farms, and a minimum of $48.50 or a rate of $0.01205 for each square foot of impervious area for commercial properties. Commercial properties would include apartments, industries, and utilities.

However, farmers and commercial property owners would be able to reduce their fees if, for example, they have agriculture erosion and sediment control/conservation plans and rain gardens.

During the second half of the meeting, which was broken into three separate groups, farmers and municipal leaders peppered planning commission members with questions. At times, it dissolved into residents shouting at the county employees.

Why start another government agency? Why should farmers have to pay a fee when they already have plans in place to reduce runoff? Why didn’t the county commissioners — who ultimately will vote on whether to form the authority — attend the meeting to hear the residents’ concerns?

Ken Myers of North Codorus Township told officials if they are going to be doing the work of the state Department of Environmental Protection, why can’t the state agency just hire a few extra employees?

Why do you need to start another government entity? “You just tell them to hire a couple more people, and you just keep out of it.”

Some in the crowd clapped.

“If that Chesapeake Bay was going to die, it would already be dead,” another man shouted.

Aaron Manifold, chairman of the Hopewell Township board of supervisors, said if residents don’t like what he does, he can be voted out. But the proposed authority will not answer to the voters.

Rodney Shearer, a supervisor in North Codorus Township, said outside of the meeting that it’s very frustrating to see that residents might have to pay a “tax.” Since 1973, the township has put in stormwater management for residents.

Now people are paying $4,000 and $5,000 to put in stormwater, and now they might be “taxed” for it, he said.

Ted Evgeniadis, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, advised participants to listen to what the county officials have to say. York County needs to reduce 4 million pounds of nitrogen to meet the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load.

Residents can look at the authority as a bad thing that is going to rob them or a good thing that can help.

If the goals are not met, farmers are going to feel the pressure even more so five years or eight years from now.

“…from what I’m seeing right now, this is a stepping stone to help you guys out,” he said.

Another meeting on the proposed stormwater authority will be held on Nov. 8.

Anyone who would like more information or to submit public comments can visit,