ZELIENOPLE — Deed-holders in Zelienople, Evans City, Harmony and Jackson Township now have to pay an annual stormwater fee.

The $72 yearly amount is the total of the $6 monthly charge needed from residents to support efforts by the Southwest Butler Stormwater Authority, Zelienople Borough Council President Gregg Semel said.

Scott Albrich, a Zelienople resident, approached council about the fee at a meeting Monday, July 28.

He questioned the purpose of the stormwater authority and asked for rationale behind the amount asked.

Mary Hess, councilwoman, said the borough has been struggling with stormwater issues, such as flooding, for years and joined the authority in 2019 to combat the problem.

She said the issues are a result of outdated infrastructure in Zelienople.

Hess told Albrich the $72 amount was calculated after estimating most residential properties take up about 4,000 square feet. Furthermore, the borough did not want to adjust the amount each year.

“This was a number that we felt would stay for a while,” Hess said.

Albrich himself described issues with flooding on his street, claiming residents have been waiting on stormwater drains for years.

Hess assured Albrich that 15% of the fee will go directly to Zelienople stormwater projects.

A detailed breakdown of the fee’s allocation is available at swbswa.org.

Annabelle Chipps is a Slippery Rock University graduate and one of 10 Pittsburgh Media Partnership summer interns.