By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Officials of this financially strapped city will try to lobby next week in Washington for a five-year postponement of a new federal requirement to more closely monitor storm water runoff.

Vice Mayor James Noonan and Councilman Ed Shelton will talk with Ohio Sens. George Voinovich and Mike DeWine while attending a public utilities conference.

The proposed storm water program will cost city households $36 to $60 a year in extra fees. Hamilton, like other local governments throughout the nation, must implement its new storm water program without federal or state funding.

"It's something that's very expensive for us to do," Shelton said.

"That expense is going to be passed on to our citizens. I don't like that at all. I don't know how Hamilton's going to afford it unless we put huge user fees on our system."

The new programs are designed to improve the quality of water in creeks, streams, lakes and rivers.

Shelton said the program is badly needed, but with the general economic woes pinching all levels of government, this is a terrible time to start it.

"There's no question it needs to be done," he said. "But why not give us a five-year grace period so we can regroup and put our finances together? But this is worst time in the world for it."

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com