Storm sewer fee should help those who pay it

Another year and another Sun Valley/Indian Creek flood. Probably the only reason that this flood was not as bad as 2002 was because the watershed happened to have its maximum vegetative cover. Visionaries like Rich Patterson have long advocated the need and benefits of better ground cover. Is anyone listening?

At times, both before and during this flood, the city had more than a dozen men working in our neighborhood. The city has some very dedicated employees who often work under difficult conditions. Probably $1,000 to $2,000 was spent.

However, the sad fact remains that despite that effort and cost, nothing that could have been prevented was prevented.

For 25 years we have asked for minor storm sewer improvements that could have prevented a lot of the present problems, damage and expense to homeowners. In 2007 and early 2008 we met privately with the mayor and with each council member to again state the greater and smaller neighborhood needs but even the smallest needs have not been done.

We voted for the one cent sales tax needed to help the other 2008 flood victims because it was the right thing to do. However, it is very frustrating to pay storm sewer fees and property taxes and never ever have any say about how even a very small part of those funds could be and should be spent in the neighborhood where the funds originate.

A bigger City Council has not been a better City Council because responsibility is deflected in so many different directions that no one is responsible.

Marv Rops

Cedar Rapids