IMG_0652

The city of Knoxville continues to address stormwater issues. City Manager Aaron Adams says more meetings, townhalls and city council agenda items will gather citizen input in regards to the creation of a stormwater utility.

Adams explained that a utility is a tax allocated for a specific purpose and this levy would be earmarked for storm water infrastructure repairs and improvements aimed at avoiding greater future costs. One inch of rain falling on an acre of impervious ground like a parking lot generates 27,000 gallons of water and Adams points out all of the water must go somewhere. The solution is the system of pipes, culverts and intakes designed to control the free-flow of water, but Adams says the integrity of the current system is in jeopardy. Adams encourages citizens to express their opinions about the proposed utility to council members.