Reader Reaction: Residents weigh in on storm-water fee

A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked about city commissioners’ decision on Thursday to accept a $50,000 fee to manage storm-water drainage for an area subdivision. Some responses:

“I ATTENDED THE COMMISSION meeting. The commissioners accepted a $50,000 fee to help with future impact of the development on storm-water runoff. The fee was acceptable to the builder, and is likely to be more than the builder’s actual portion of the cost of running an underground storm-water runoff pipe to the nearest playa lake.

“It’s a far better solution to the problem than either just running water on the streets, or running it to an underground holding tank, or digging ditches in the front of each lot, or , God forbid, digging an 11-foot-deep pit in the middle of a residential neighborhood to hold storm water.

“Our commissioners are acting responsibly, allowing development to continue while beginning to obtain and allocate funds to getting the storm water to the areas that are appropriate for it to remain. The neighbors were not aware of the plans for two pits on Jadyn and Enloe. The Commissioners are doing very well at considering the impact of all possible solutions and making our neighborhoods as functional and as pleasant as possible.”

— Carolyn Spence

“AFTER READING THE STORY in the paper on Friday, I have to believe that the commissioners were just thinking of the money and nothing else. I believe they are in need of money to pay for the police raises and the new civic center that is being built. They have a public works director and pay him to work for the city, so why don’t they listen to him?

“As stated now, the underground pipe will most likely have to be put in. ... At a cost of $150,000, simple math says that the commissioners just cost the city $100,000 if they do this right. Commissioner (Robert) Sandoval stated that tabling the motion would stall development in the area. Well I fail to see a problem with that unless I had some interest in that development that could cost me money.

“These commissioners are dealing with the taxpayers money and I think they forget that. … I think the commissioners need to think of the best interest of the taxpayers and stop spending money foolishly.”

— Steve Gershon

“I HAVE STATED MY opinion several times about decisions of the present city commission and the most of the time it is negative. I am surprised that they had the intelligence to accept a partial payment of the cost that is forthcoming for flood control of this development.”

— Mac McDonald

“I DON’T KNOW IF $50,000 is enough to do the job. I do know that Clovis needs to step back, take a deep breath and start planning its growth. How many years has it been since we had enough growth to worry about in this town? Now virtually any business and any development appears to be approved in any location without any thought to the long term.

“I am very excited to see Clovis growing, but one look at North Prince (or even Norris) and you can tell we’re not thinking or planning for this kind of development. I’ve been through this before in what used to be a small town in Northern California. Rapid, unplanned growth leads to frantic, knee-jerk reactions from people who don’t like the results.”

— Carol Singletary

“WITH THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE regarding the storm-drainage fee accepted by the Clovis city commission, I find no fault with it.”

— Harold Burris, Clovis