LANCASTER, Penna. (September 20th, 2021) – The Manheim Township Board of Commissioners recently held a public meeting on Monday, September 13th at the Manheim Township Public Library where the creation of a temporary Stormwater Management Task Force was discussed and approved. This was a staff recommendation that was made during a Stormwater Workshop that Commissioners held in June.
The purpose of this task force is to conduct research and present the Board of Commissioners with information and advice on the best course of action for Manheim Township in regards to stormwater management permit regulations, community stormwater improvement projects, and the potential introduction of a Stormwater Management Utility (Fee).
“Lancaster County is known for its runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus from farms, contributing to more than its share of the prime pollutants in the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay. I believe it is our obligation to do something to correct this,” said Manheim Township Board of Commissioners' Vice President, Sam Mecum.
Manheim Township’s Engineer and Public Works Director reported in June that by 2023 the Township will need to allocate over $3 million per year just to keep up with EPA and DEP mandates. Commissioner Mecum stated, “the Task Force will need to explore creative ways to pay for these mandates.”
The Manheim Township Stormwater Management Task Force will consist of 11 members. Seats, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 are open with separate qualifications for each seat and applications currently can be found on the Manheim Township website at bit.ly/MT-Volunteer-App. Applicants will select “Special Task Force or Study” on the application, and email the application to info@manheimtownship.org for consideration.
7 members shall be legal residents of Manheim Township. The Manheim Township School District will be represented, as well as representatives from a few Municipal Boards. Two members may be residents, or non-residents, owners or managers with companies that lease locations within Manheim Township, including those that are Agri-businesses.
One may be a resident, or non-resident, representative of a church, synagogue, or other faith-based organization located within Manheim Township. Additionally, one member may be a resident or non-resident that will represent non-profit organizations.
All members will be appointed by the Board of Commissioners for a term on the temporary Stormwater Management Task Force, which shall sunset and expire on April 12th, 2022.
Township Manager Jim Drumm said, “Manheim Township has studied the impacts of stormwater and water pollution for years, but has stopped short of adopting a formal program to continuously address and fund the drainage and water quality improvements that are needed.”
The Township and other Lancaster County municipalities participated in a University of Maryland study in 2013 that examined stormwater problems in our region and encouraged the creation of a dedicated funding source to address them.
Drumm said, “I hope potential members will come forward, as I think the missing element of the past process has been involving the public.” He said he believes that the task force will give stakeholders a role in studying the increasingly stringent Federal regulations that have been placed on municipalities; studying the flooding and drainage issues; and developing a program to solve water quality issues within the Township.”
The task force will hold one regular monthly meeting with public record of such meetings and minutes to be posted on the Manheim Township website. The Stormwater Management Task Force will complete its work and present their report to the Board of Commissioners on or before Monday, April 11th, 2022. At which point, the task force will have completed their assigned task and shall then cease to exist.
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MEDIA POST CONTACT:
Declan Murphy, Manheim Township Communications Specialist
W: 717-569-6406 Ext: 1140
dmurphy@manheimtownship.org