EVANS CITY — An unfunded mandate required by the state Department of Environmental Protection will cost the borough up to $18,750.

Robert Arnold of HRG engineering told the borough council at its Monday night meeting that not only did the DEP reject Evans City's request for a waiver to the municipal storm sewer requirements, but is mandating that the borough submit a plan to reduce sediment in Breakneck Creek by 10 percent in the next five years.

The pollution control plan would be part of the stormwater permit also required by the DEP, which is due by Sept. 16, Arnold said.

The $18,750 is the cost for HRG to create the plan and application, plus permit fees.

Borough solicitor Mike Gallagher said increased street sweeping and snow removal as well as detecting and combating illegal pollution sources into the creek and its tributaries are ways the borough can reach the 10 percent goal.

“To get credit for the street sweeping, (the DEP) will require you to do it 25 times per year,” Arnold said.

Council President Lee Dyer pointed out that it costs $500 for each street-sweeping session in the borough. The borough now sweeps the streets several times per year.

Gallagher warned the council members that the DEP will also require the borough to go after polluters affecting Breakneck Creek and its tributaries, even if the polluter is on private property.

That includes the possibility of attaining search warrants to examine a property, Gallagher said.

Dyer said he's unsure where the $18,750 will come from in the borough's cash-strapped budget. His fellow council members were equally frustrated.

“You can't win,” said Councilman John McKinney.

“It's a shame,” said Councilwoman Kim Armstrong.

Gallagher said the council is required to provide a 30-day public comment period once HRG provides the plan.

He recommended the council hold a public hearing on the plan as well.

Arnold said although the borough has about 1,800 residents and 2,500 is the benchmark for an urban area, Evans City was lumped in with urban areas in Butler County regarding stormwater because of its total amount of paved surface.

To meet the Sept. 16 deadline with a public comment period, the board voted unanimously to approve the creation of the plan by HRG.