The Newton City Council has approved future increases in the Stormwater Utility Fee. During their meeting last night, Council members voted 5 to 1 to add rate increases that were not part of the original ordinance that was created in October 2020. The ordinance generates revenue to address stormwater issues and activities. The fee is based on the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) of Four Thousand (4,000) square feet of impervious area as the official unit of measurement. The initial ERU rate was $4.00. The ERU rate increased to $4.25 on July 1, 2022, and to $4.50 on July 1, 2023. But the initial ordinance did not include additional rate increases after last year’s increase. City staff recommended and the Newton City Council has now approved increasing the ERU rate by twenty-five cents on July 1st of each year for the next five years starting July 1st next year, 2025. At-Large Councilman Randy Ervin was the lone “No” vote. The Newton City Council met last night due to last Monday’s Labor Day Holiday. The regular meeting was followed by a Council Goal Setting workshop.