By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - Warren County Commissioners reluctantly agreed Tuesday to sign a permit establishing a storm water management plan with a hefty price for the first five years: $1.5 million.

That means homeowners in four of the county's townships and two of its villages are going to pay about $12 a year to support the system.

But Commissioner Mike Kilburn vehemently objected, calling the new program useless.

"This is about stupidest piece of legislation we've ever seen," Kilburn said.

The storm water management plan is part of an unfunded federal mandate passed in an attempt to improve the water quality in rivers and streams. It forces local governments to consider quality of storm water runoff by requiring them to take steps such as educating the public and setting up storm water districts.

The county must submit its plan by March 10 to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

If officials do not, they are subject to jail time and up to $25,000 a day in penalties, County Engineer Neil Tunison said.

Commissioners Pat South and Larry Crisenbery objected to the mandate, but said Tuesday the plan should be submitted so the county isn't open to penalties.

In a Feb. 18 letter, commissioners urged U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, to try to block the storm water program.

"I don't have a problem with us submitting the plan," South said. "When it comes time to ante up dollars, that's when I'm going to start putting the skids on this a little bit."

Officials with the townships and villages participating in the plan with the county agreed.

"I don't want to fight the EPA. If you want to fight the EPA, you should sign this now and submit it and then you'll be on good standing to vigorously fight this," Franklin Township Assistant Administrator Paul Hillard told commissioners.

The county will split the cost with the townships; it will cost $155,318 a year, Tunison said. He said the system also would address flooding during heavy rains - the most common complaint from residents about storm water.

Warren County will contribute $92,500, and the townships - Clearcreek, Franklin, Hamilton, Turtlecreek and Union - will pay $58,750. The village of South Lebanon will pay $2,983 and village of Maineville $1,085.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com