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iii Western Kentucky University Stormwater Utility Survey 2019 Preface to the 2019 Survey This is a very exciting year for stormwater utilities. First, New London formed the first stormwater utility in Connecticut. Secondly, New Jersey passed a state law that allows communities to form stormwater utilities in the state. To my knowledge, none have formed yet, but they are progressing. Third, communities in Rhode Island are exploring the possibility of enacting stormwater utilities. Finally, Anchorage, Alaska has contracted for a SWU feasibility study. Their popularity is growing. I am always surprised by how worked up people get regarding stormwater fees. When I was the City Hydrologist for Huntsville, Alabama we formed a Flood Mitigation Committee to look at ways of protecting Huntsville people and properties from flooding. After a 10-month long process of education for Committee members, we decided that the best and fairest option was a stormwater utility. The Committee voted unanimously to propose that to the City Council. Our very supportive mayor said we needed to set up a meeting with the Huntsville Times Editorial Board. We did this and presented our case. To their credit, they backed us all the way. They wrote an editorial laying out the idea and backing it fully. I always say that the reaction by a small group of people could not have been stronger than if we had proposed to kill the first-born child of every family in Huntsville. At the public meeting these ill-informed people ranted and raved. They deluged the mayor's and Council member's offices with phone calls, emails, and letters. For residential customers we were planning on asking for less than the cost of a glass of wine at a restaurant each month. About 200 committed people controlled the destiny of 170,000 Huntsville residents. After the public meeting the Flood Mitigation Committee Chair wisely asked the committee to vote again on the proposal to develop a stormwater utility for Huntsville. Again, the vote was unanimous in support of a stormwater utility. This was quite a political science lesson for me. You can always educate a few, reasonable, well-informed people of the need for adequate stormwater funding. However, informing the general population is much more difficult. Once the few who shoot from the hip without thinking hit the editorial pages and the television stations freely expressing their opinions, community opinion becomes fixed and it is an uphill battle to change it. If I had it to do over again, I would not have mentioned the fee before a yearlong public education campaign. I would approach those who had experienced floods and ask them to support the idea with letters and emails to the Council and mayor. Going to the Editorial Board seemed like a really good idea at the time, but it was premature. The purpose of this survey has always been to provide information for public education campaigns for those communities who need adequate funding for stormwater programs. I hope it fulfills that purpose. Warren Campbell Bowling Green, Kentucky June 4, 2019