Drainage consultants to host meeting May 14

NorthStar Engineering representatives will explain proposal to create a storm-water utility and answer questions.

By LORETTA SWORD
The Pueblo West View

The authors of a long-awaited community wide drainage study will discuss their findings - and the idea of creating a storm-water utility to finance more than $22 million in improvements - during a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. May 14 in the commons area at Skyview Middle School, 1047 S. Camino de Bravo Ave.

There will be an open house until 7 p.m. and then a 20-minute formal presentation from representatives of NorthStar Engineering and Surveying of Pueblo, who will answer questions afterward.

The firm has been studying Pueblo West drainage problems for nearly three years and later this year will make a formal presentation of its findings to the Pueblo West Metropolitan District Board of Directors. The final phase of the study, of basins north of U.S. 50, may not be finished until next year.

NorthStar is expected to propose creating a storm-water utility that would charge property owners varying fees to pay for drainage improvements throughout the community. The fees would be based on the proportion of property that is covered by structures and concrete or asphalt that are impermeable to rainfall and snowmelt.

As part of its study, the company completed an aerial survey of the community that shows the types of buildings and other improvements on each lot that divert precipitation and, presumably, add to problems with snowmelt and rainstorm runoff.

The metro board on May 13 also will hear a presentation by representatives of Red Oak utilities consultants regarding recommended water and wastewater improvements and the rate increases that would be required to make those improvements. That meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at metro district headquarters, 109 E. Industrial Blvd.

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