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Latrobe considers delaying due date for storm water bill | TribLIVE.com
Westmoreland

Latrobe considers delaying due date for storm water bill

Jeff Himler
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Jeff Himler | Tribune-Review

Latrobe residents should expect to see their first bills for the city’s new storm water management fee next year, but city officials are considering an extended due date for payment.

At its October meeting, city council will consider amending its storm water code ordinance to move the billing date to Jan. 1. A May billing had been planned before the covid-19 pandemic delayed implementation of the fee, in light of related financial hardships for residents.

At Monday’s agenda planning session, city Manager Michael Gray proposed an annual payment due date of Feb. 15 for the fee of $90 per equivalent residential unit. But, he said he would look at a later payment date, at least for 2021, after Councilman Ralph Jenko pointed out residents likely will continue to face a budget crunch in the early weeks of the year.

“I’m a little concerned with the six weeks for a bill that no one has yet seen,” Jenko said. “For 2021, I’d like to see a longer period for that bill to be paid — three or four months for that first go-round.

“This is going to come as a shock to people. It’s going to come from households right after a Christmas season where people are struggling to make Christmas bills and heating bills.”

The fee is meant to support Latrobe’s efforts to comply with a state environmental mandate that it reduce sediment flowing into local streams by 10% annually over five years.

“We have to move along with it, complying with the reduction plan,” Gray said. “It’s been in place since 2018, and we’re’ going to be going into 2021. We’re already behind 30%.”

Zoning partnership with Derry eyed

Ann Powell, Latrobe’s code and zoning enforcement officer, was assigned additional duties overseeing the storm water management program. Council has discussed hiring a new officer to take over the code and zoning functions, and Gray has suggested sharing the position with nearby Derry Borough.

“It’s going to be tough for (Powell) to juggle all these positions unless we get someone,” Gray said.

He said Latrobe likely would need the officer’s services between three and four days per week while Derry may need them no more than 10 hours per week. He suggested a shared position could provide the added benefits needed to attract qualified candidates.

Approving a cooperation agreement with Derry, possibly next month, would be a first step for further investigating the possibility, Gray said.

Derry Borough has had an interest in hiring its own zoning officer rather than continuing with the services of a third-party contractor.

“They’ve been overwhelmed with other communities,” said Al Checca, vice president of Derry Council. “You can’t fault them for that.”

Checca agreed that a joint hiring might attract better candidates for both communities. He noted Derry Council has yet to discuss the idea at an agenda session.

“We’ve got to see what (Latrobe’s) expectations are,” he said. “If we can work together, we’re absolutely all about it.”

Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.

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Categories: Local | Westmoreland
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