EVANS CITY — The borough unanimously voted Monday, April 1, to become the first of four municipalities that could make up the Southwestern Butler County Stormwater Authority.

Representing the borough for the potential water authority is Mark Widdersheim, who said he has been keeping the council informed on the newly formed group’s progress.

“They understand the problem,” Widdersheim said. “They understand that there’s not enough funding for these stormwater infrastructure projects. It’s a solution. It’s an equitable solution.”

The newly formed joint authority will be comprised of three other municipalities that will plan and fund long-term solutions for stormwater management for the surrounding areas.

Last month, Harmony Council President Greg Such said the joint authority would be funded by a fee based on the amount of impervious property landowners hold.

“It’s not just residents who will be paying for it,” Widdersheim said. “It will be commercial businesses, churches and schools.”

During last month’s Harmony borough council meeting, Such said the fee will likely be in the $4 or $5 range for homes that have less than 4,000 square feet of impervious property.

Zelienople, Jackson Township and Harmony also will be voting to adopt a resolution to organize the joint authority. Their votes, according to Widdersheim, will likely not happen until the end of April or early May.

Widdersheim said joining the authority is in the best interest of the borough because of the “really old” stormwater infrastructure and help with satisfying the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit mandate.

Evans City will be the only borough in the authority required to comply with a mandated permit from the state.

The permit regulates household and industrial wastes that are collected in sewers and treated at municipal wastewater treatment plants.

“Complying with (the permit) is an unfunded mandate,” Widdersheim said. “The state wants you to do more, but they’re not giving you the resources to anything else, so you have to generate money to handle that.”

Widdersheim, who volunteered to be the borough’s representative for the authority, has a degree in chemical engineering and has worked for a civil engineering firm for since 1999.

“I think I’ve been able to carry the effort from the permitting aspects and compliance,” Widdersheim said. “As well as regional initiatives to mitigate flooding.”