According to Joe Bulluck, a representative of the Baldwin County Watershed Coalition, water quality is everybody’s business.

There is no doubt, citizens of Baldwin County have an interest in clean water, whether they live on the Eastern Shore, in rural northeastern Baldwin County, or along the coastline.

The Baldwin County Watershed Coalition, a voluntary consortium of Baldwin County interests, will support local communities in managing flooding, drainage, and issues related to storm water runoff within the county, while at the same time preserving and improving water quality and the use of our water resources.

As with all such projects, it comes with a price.

On Monday, Bulluck presented his case to the Gulf Shores city council for why they should support the initiative. He gave each council person and Mayor Robert Craft a packet that included a copy of the legislative act  from the State of Alabama enabling the legislation, a map showing the location of some of the projects that have been considered a priority for the coalition to address, as well as a detailed description of each project. Of the 125 projects identified by the technical committee of the Watershed Coalition, 30 have been identified as high priority.

“The amount of revenue that would be generated by this storm water fee would be approximately $2.5 million per year,” Bulluck said. “The money would be collected through your property tax.”

With the exclusion of agriculture and undeveloped land, everyone with a developed piece of property would pay a minimum of $12 per unit.

The fee would increase, based on the amount of impervious area that improvements cover on the lot.

“If I have a house with under 4,000 feet of impervious area, then my stormwater impact fee would be $24 per year, $12 base fee plus $12 additional dollars for my impervious coverage,” Bullock explained.

According to the rate structure, impervious area is considered whether it is commercial or residential.

Bullock said many people were concerned that this was a case of taxation without representation, but he assured the council that that was not the case.

“The makeup of the executive committee of the corporation would include seats that would be held by state representatives, state senators, local representation by the mayors which would be determined by the mayor’s association, as well as community groups and business groups such as the chamber of commerce.

“That is a wide, diverse group, but it would in no way be taxation without representation. At some level of government, you will have a voice in what the corporation is actually doing.”

According to Bullock, the stormwater corporation would ensure public participation through relationship with Baldwin County Watershed Coalition, construct storm water control projects on public lands in Baldwin County using at least 80 percent gross revenues for capital expenditures and based on a workplan determined by the BCWC, and may act as an agent of any member governing body such as the county or municipalities, for inspection and program implementation. The corporation cannot add additional requirements other than those mandated by ADEM, establish or enforce any building codes, subdivision regulations, zoning regulations, development plans or comprehensive plans.

Mayor Craft requested figures on certain projects which Bullock said he would bring back to the council at the next meeting.