Legal Notice – Public Hearing on Increase in Stormwater Fees, Town of Rockville

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED INCREASE IN STORMWATER FEES FOR THE TOWN OF ROCKVILLE, INDIANA

 

Any interested parties in the Town of Rockville, Indiana, and other interested parties served by the Town of Rockville, Indiana stormwater system are hereby notified that Ordinance No. 2025-08, increasing the rates and charges for stormwater services for the town may increase and/or change its terms.   A public hearing of the Rockville Town Council will be held at 5 p.m., local time, on Monday, October 20, 2025 at the Town Hall, 119 W. High Street, Rockville, Indiana, on the matter of stormwater fees and charges.  Immediately following the public hearing, the Town Council will convene and consider the adoption of said ordinance.

 

Ordinance No. 2025-08 provides for an increase in rates and charges as set forth in Exhibit “A”.

 

At such public hearing and prior to final adoption of Ordinance No. 2025-08, all interested parties may appear and be heard.  The complete text of proposed Ordinance No. 2025-08 is on file and available for examination and copying at the office of the Town’s Clerk-Treasurer at 119 W. High Street, Rockville, Indiana, during regular business hours, and will be available at the public hearing.

 

Dated this 3 day of September, 2025

 

Exhibit A

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-08

ORDINANCE AMENDING STORMWATER RATES AND CHARGES

Whereas: The Town of Rockville, Indiana (Town) owns and operates a storm water utility (utility) for the benefit of its inhabitants; and;

 

Whereas: Current Stormwater  revenue is inadequate to maintain or improve the existing stormwater drainage system in the town, resulting in water damage or flooding of private property and public  assets, including roadways; and;

 

Whereas: Every property either contributes to or benefits from the management of stormwater within the Town; and;

 

Now Therefore Be It Resolved:

 

1. Every property owner/lessee, in the Town of Rockville with a hard surface area (HSA) will incur a stormwater fee obligation, the obligation will be increased based on hard surface area, this shall include property owner/lessees/lessees identified as having a water meter as well those without a water meter that own at least 500 square feet or more of Hard Surface Area (HSA) even if no water, electric, or sewage services are connected to the property. Any property outside of the municipal boundaries of the town with water service will pay a storm fee only if a portion of the property they own drains into the municipal boundary or passes through drainage infrastructure the Town maintains, as the water passes downstream or by overland flow.
2. Definitions: Hard Surface Area (HSA): An area where rainwater’s ability to get into the subsoil is significantly reduced. Asphalt, Brick, Concrete, Gravel, Stone, Buildings, Canopies, and Pool Areas are some examples.

iii. Minimum Fee:  $10.68 per month per property

1. Maximum Fee will be capped at 50,000 sq ft.

Fee schedule:

0-15,000	$10.68
15,001-30,000	$21.36
30,001-45,000	$32.4
45,001 and above	$42.72

1. Stormwater fees in Rockville will be determined by HSA as measured by satellite imaging through geographic information systems (GIS) type method. Hard surface area will be determined for the legal parcels based on the record of owner/lesseeship. The fee charged will be based by property, which may include one or more parcels. Multiple parcels may be combined for billing purposes if they are contiguous (not just touching each other at a corner), are not separatedby an alley or street, and have the same usage, i.e., commercial, residential, industrial.
2. Discrepancy Resolution for HSA Measurements: If there is a discrepancy of 10% between the owner/lessee’s estimate of HSA and the satellite image calculation, AND it will make a difference in the fee charged to the property owner/lessee, a manual measurement will take place. The owner/lessee/ must submit  a written request for measurement and grant the Town permission to access the parcel{s) in question when challenging the HSA assessment. The measurement will take place during normal town utility operating hours, a mutually agreeable time for the owner/lessee to attend measurement will be attempted, but if it cannot be worked out after town offers 3 different meeting options, the town utility superintendent will set a date and give the owner/lessee minimum of 2 week notice of the scheduled measurement time then go ahead and measure the property HSA. The Owner/lessee is responsible for paying the fees on time as billed until the manual measurement is complete. After the discrepancy is resolved, the owner/lessee’s account will be credited for overpayment for a maximum retroactive payment window of 1 year, but will also be responsible for making up underpayment if that is determined.   If the area requiring measurement of the surface area is greater than the town’s capability to measure efficiently, the town will engage an outside firm to measure, and the cost will be split between the town and the owner/lessee. The owner/lessee’s portion will be assessed to their next bill after the town has been invoiced for the survey fee.

vii. Appeals for discrepancies in billing shall be made to the Town Stormwater Board. Any appeals of town stormwater board determinations shall be made in accordance with I.C. 8-1.5-5-19.

viii. Property acquired for road right of way by government entities is exempt from monthly stormwater drainage fees.

1. Rainwater runoff does not vary based on owner/lesseeship or intended use {residential, commercial, government, recreational, or industrial), so stormwater fees are equal for all property types.
2. stormwater fees will not be held, waived, or suspended for vacation or non-use of property.
3. Any and all previous ordinances that are in conflict with this ordinance are hereby revoked.

xii.          The utility rates and charges adopted hereby shall become effective upon its passage and due publication, effective date of January 1, 2026.

 

All of which is ordained by the Rockville Town Council this _____ day of ____________, 2025.

 

Rockville Town Council

 

 

 

 

 

Attest: _______________

Clerk-Treasurer