GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Board of County Commissioners Chamber was packed to the rim on Tuesday.

That's because more than 200 residents showed up to the afternoon meeting to speak out against a proposed resolution set to impose collection of a stormwater fee within the county.

The fee will act as a dedicated funding source to support maintenance, repair and improvement of the county's stormwater management system in unincorporated areas. Assessments on developed property will be proportional to the burden on the stormwater system.

The rates specifically will be based on the impervious area of each parcel and measured as an equivalent residential unit at 3,780 square feet.

The 10-year build up will begin at $85 ERU a year for an average single-family home. The max ERU rate will be $110 a year.

According to the county, the specific funding stream will help to fix and maintain aging stormwater infrastructure, as well take preventative measures. The county pointed to the Moody Avenue culvert failure last year as an example.

"We can't neglect it. We just can't do that anymore," said Chair Kristen Burke. "It should've been addressed years ago but it wasn't."

The eight-hour meeting saw more than 100 speakers voice their disapproval, citing an excess cost for residents, especially those on a fixed income. They also detested paying for stormwater improvements that don't affect their area.

"You look at the median age of the folks in this room, they don't have the extra money to pay out another tax," one resident said. 

According to the county, the assessment will serve the benefit of all developed property in unincorporated county areas. Some proposed project areas included: the College Drive pond, Old Jennings Road, Grove Park, Green Cove Springs and Pine Avenue.

"We don't see any benefit from it," one resident told the board. "Most of the projects planned for this are not in the unincorporated areas. They're in Orange Park and Green Cove. Again, they're getting the benefit without having to benefit but we're being asked to."

Ultimately, the board still voted 3-2 to adopt the new fee, with dissenting votes from District 2 Commissioner Alexandra Compere and District 4 Commissioner Betsy Condon.

The commissioners also voted to add a 50% veteran exemption for qualifying residents and a 100% hardship exemption, which will be brought back at the next board meeting to be incorporated into the resolution. Mitigation credits will also be given to decreases to the burden on the system. Stormwater treatment will be a 25% fee reduction, residential large lots will be a 50% reduction and agricultural property will be a 100% reduction, meeting the requirements of Florida Statute.