Why Manatee County Needs a Stormwater Utility and a Greener Approach
Elect Me as Your Champion for Smarter, Greener Solutions in Manatee County
After listening to Rob Brown, the former Environmental Protection Division Manager for Manatee County, at the recent Flooding and Development Community meeting, I felt compelled to dig deeper into our county's stormwater management challenges. His insights were a wake-up call, emphasizing the urgent need for a dedicated stormwater utility to tackle the growing issues of flooding, water pollution, and infrastructure degradation.
As a candidate for the Manatee County Commission At Large seat, I want to advocate for a more proactive and comprehensive approach to stormwater management. Recent events, like the devastating flooding from Tropical Storm Debby, have shown us just how vulnerable our current infrastructure is. Even areas outside of designated flood zones were severely impacted, highlighting the shortcomings of our existing system and the need for a dedicated stormwater utility to provide consistent funding and better oversight ([Manatee County Recovers from Debby](https://www.mymanatee.org)).
During a Water Day event hosted by the UF/IFAS Extension, I learned that the City of Milwaukee has implemented an innovative strategy by planting trees to increase their tree canopy to 22-25%. This has enabled Milwaukee to avoid over 207 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually, a benefit valued at $1.85 million per year. Additionally, these trees help reduce air pollution by 1.25 million pounds annually, equating to an $18 million value each year. Randy Krouse, one of the speakers, explained that planting trees not only aids in stormwater management but also helps reduce heat stress, improve air quality, and increase property values.
This example shows us the power of green infrastructure. Planting trees is a natural, cost-effective solution to managing stormwater, and it also brings a host of other benefits. Manatee County should focus on establishing a stormwater utility and significantly increase our tree canopy rather than cutting down the trees we already have.
We need a comprehensive plan to address these issues now, not only to protect our homes and businesses from future flooding but also to tackle the broader impacts of climate change. As a County Commissioner, advocating for a dedicated stormwater utility and a greener approach to urban planning would be at the forefront of my agenda. It's our responsibility to ensure that Manatee County is prepared for the challenges ahead, and that means investing in sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship.
By establishing a stormwater utility, we could introduce a small annual fee. The fees are typically based on the amount of impervious surface on a property, such as roofs and driveways. For example, smaller residential properties with less impervious area would pay a lower fee, while larger properties, like big-box stores or commercial centers with extensive parking lots, would pay more due to their higher impact on the stormwater system.
For most residents, this fee would range from $60 to $300 assessment — a modest cost considering the benefits of reducing flood risk, protecting water quality, and preventing costly damage in the long term. These funds could be further supplemented by state resources, such as low-interest loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), to finance essential infrastructure improvements ([State Revolving Fund - Florida DEP](https://floridadep.gov)). Rob Brown also mentioned “There are also grants available and the utility would provide matching funds needed to secure the grants.”
Manatee County has a choice to make. We can continue with the status quo, relying on outdated systems that put us at risk, or we can invest in smart, sustainable solutions that benefit us all. Let’s focus on what really matters — protecting our environment, our community, and our future. As a candidate for the County Commission, I am committed to advocating for these crucial changes.
Manatee County is at a pivotal crossroads, and it's up to the voters to decide the kind of community they want to build for the future. Elect responsible, accountable, and transparent leaders who understand that the role of a commissioner is to legislate policies for the safety, well-being, health, and quality of life for all residents—not just special interests or developers.
Sources:
1. [Manatee County Recovers from Debby](https://www.mymanatee.org)
2. [Flooded Manatee Homeowners Want Answers from County](https://baynews9.com)
3. [Debby Inundates Manatee County](https://www.mymanatee.org)
4. [DEP Funding Opportunities - Florida DEP](https://floridadep.gov)
5. [State Revolving Fund - Florida DEP](https://floridadep.gov)
6. [Florida DEP Announces SRF Money for Water Quality Projects](https://waterfm.com)
This all comes back to a ridiculous density issue. Living in an HOA is not home ownership in America, secondly the density only benefits developers. This is just as bad as pollution and if a plane should crash or a tornado should occur the devastation will be tremendous and none of our hospitals combined are prepared nor is our public safety for a catastrophic event. We can reduce casualties and a lot of these flooding issues simply by reducing the density. No more than a half acre per unit.
What we need is a moratorium on residential development, until our infrastructure issues are addressed and we have a long-term plan and our *public safety Is caught up and over budgeted. This is responsible leadership in a growing county.
Forgive me if I seem a little ignorant, but don't we already pay for the county to maintain our stormwater drains? It would seem that our ad-valorem taxes have been covering those expenses for the past...well, more than 50 years? What about increasing the impact fees so the developer has to pay that? And if the impact fee isn't earmarked for such a thing, rewrite the ordinance so it is.
Manatee County thought it was a great idea to remove all impact fees from the developers after the 2008 financial crisis to fire up the housing market when in fact, it was the developers who had all the money.
I don't think we need to start adding fees here and there on a financially burdened society until this government can begin to take control and become accountable for what we already give them.