Whitemarsh Supervisor Calls for Regional Stormwater Task Force

In a letter addressed to over two dozen local elected officials, Whitemarsh Board of Supervisors chair Bob Hart has called for the creation of a regional stormwater task force, Patch learned yesterday.

“We’ve all heard of the 100 year storm,” began the supervisor. “Unfortunately, these 100 year storms seem to be occurring on a much more frequent basis.”

Hart went on to write that the purpose of the task force—which he suggested be comprised of two to three members of each municipality—would be to promote and work for the passage of House Bill 1390.

The bill, authored by state Rep. Robert Freeman (D-136), has been a non-starter in Harrisburg, but would establish authorities empowered to address stormwater on a regional basis, and, most saliently, have the taxing authority to implement large-scale solutions.

“The time has come for us in local government to help Rep. Freeman lead the charge for real solutions to our physically and financially devastating stormwater problems,” read the letter.

Hart argues a regional solution is necessary because the cost burden of a sufficient stormwater management plan is often too great for an individual municipality to bear. And the cost of inaction is even greater.

Some municipalities, he wrote, “have tackled their stormwater problems head on by investing hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of dollars to help solve these problems.”

Without cooperation, he added, the economic challenge is overwhelming.