GREEN COVE SPRINGS – An increase in the stormwater utility fee for residents will start in October.

With a 5-0 vote, Green Cove Springs City Council members voted to raise the base charge rate for the stormwater utility fee to $6 monthly for each parcel and the usage charge fee up to $25 monthly for ESU.

Public Works Director and Assistant City Manager Mike Null said the increase comes as a necessity to provide upkeep on the system that ultimately keeps the town from flooding.

“The stormwater system just basically is a way to capture all the stormwater that falls … and gets it out to the river or the creek without flooding the town,” Null said.

Null said the base charge will mainly affect all property within city limits. The user charge will apply to the “core city.” However, Null said Reynolds Park and Magnolia Point will not be affected by the user fee.

Since these two areas are located at the northern and southern parts of town, they own and operate their own stormwater systems, separating them from the main city.

“Unfortunately, it may not look right, but the infrastructure … maintained is in the core city, so that is also where the properties are that’ll be charged,” Null said.

Null said the base fee will cover day to day operations of the stormwater system, while the user fee will go towards large construction projects aiming to replace failed systems within the community. Null said the user fee will aid in the funding of at least $1.35 million worth of projects for the next 10 years

During the meeting, citizens were concerned with the increased charges. With the base fee and user fee rising from an original payment of $3.50 and $10.42, respectively, some residents were concerned of the effects the charge could have on lower income families.

However, Null said the user fee’s impact is solely based on the amount of imperviousness a single property has.

“The user fee is based on impact to the system. So, the single-family home is going to have the same impact regardless of how much income is in that home. It’s based on the square footage of that home,” Null said.

Amid the concerns, Null urged the fee was the most appropriate way to solve the issue.

“That’s the tough part. The need is there, the storm pipes need to be replaced and there’s got to be a funding mechanism in place,” Null said.

Null said that residents can expect to see the new rate on Oct. 1.