Bryant is looking to find funding for stormwater/drainage issues. The current rates collect $300,000 annually, according to a report by the City. However, Bryant has identified over $95 million of long-term unfunded stormwater capital improvements to address flooding issues.
The City currently charges residential customers a flat fee of $3.00 per month for stormwater services; non-residential customers $6.00 per month. Senior citizens are exempt from the fee.
The report states that because the current fees are not enough to cover Stormwater Fund operating expenses, there is a need to implement a new long-term rate plan. The City wants its stormwater fund to become self-sufficient in the future.
Read more below.
Some background:
The Bryant Municipal Funding Committee met on April 3rd to organize leadership roles, review stormwater planning, and prepare for upcoming recommendations to the Bryant City Council at their meeting that was April 29th. Meeting minutes are at the end of this article but…
The meeting focused on the Draft Master Drainage Plan Phase 1 and the city’s in-house drainage study. They analyzed flood-prone areas, proposed stormwater projects, and cost estimates. One resident at the meeting posed concerns about flooding near Shoal Creek.
The committee discussed the goal of transitioning Stormwater into a standalone utility. It is currently supported by the Streets Department. An ongoing rate analysis is in progress, and the committee plans to make a formal recommendation on the Stormwater Master Plan in the next meeting.
The upcoming May meeting:
The Committee is set to meet on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room at 210 SW 3rd Street.
The May meeting agenda includes the approval of minutes from the April 3rd session and a scheduled presentation of the 2025 Stormwater Rate Study by Dan Jackson of Willdan Financial Services. The session will be streamed live on the city’s YouTube channel, allowing residents to stay informed and engaged.
A key focus of the meeting will be evaluating the city’s stormwater funding strategy as part of the Public Works agenda. With mounting infrastructure needs and increasing compliance costs, the study is expected to propose adjustments to the city’s stormwater fee structure. Committee and mayoral comments will close the meeting, offering final insights into how the city plans to address future stormwater challenges.
Full meeting minutes from April 2025:
Funding Committee Unapproved Minutes 4/3/2025
Members Present: Lisa Meyer, Jon Martin, Jack Moseley, Denecia Ramsey, Scott Staples, Phillip Partain, Jim Erwin. Members Absent: Butch Higginbotham. Staff Present: Jordan Reynolds, Mayor Treat, Ted Taylor, Tim Fournier. Guests Present: __.
Call to Order: 6:08 PM by Mayor Treat.
Public Comments:
● Joel Smith – Rodeo backs up to Shoal Creek–wants to make sure it’s on Council and City’s radar; worried about continuing flooding and wants to know that the City is actively working to mitigate flooding
○ Jack Moseley & Jordan O’Roark (in his ward) are aware and monitoring
New Business:
● Bylaws – Scott Staples motioned to accept, 2nd by Phillip Partain; all in favor
● Chairperson – Jim Erwin made a motion for Lisa Meyer to chair this committee, 2nd by Scott Staples
○ Vice Chair – Jon Martin made a motion for Phillip Partain to vice-chair this committee, 2nd by Scott Staples; all in favor
○ Secretary – Scott Staples made a motion for Jordan Reynolds to be secretary, 2nd by Phillip Partain; all in favor
● Timeline – Ted Taylor went over the proposed Funding Committee timeline and explained that the committee will focus on three areas, split between the year. Committee to regularly give report to Council
○ Agreed that Thursdays are better, meeting on 1st Thursday of each month – Motion by Scott, 2nd by Jim
■ Later, the committee changed the May meeting to May 15th–other meetings are scheduled for the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM (But now the meeting is May 20th at 6:30pm)
■ Talked about possibly moving locations to better serve residents (i.e. Bishop Center)
● Draft Master Drainage Plan Phase 1
○ Fournier gave an overview of the plan with details about the process which included a resident survey
○ Fournier explained that they break the study down by how many flood instances were at certain locations
○ Asked committee to study heat maps and executive summary after they review plan
○ Phase 2 lists all the projects, associated costs, and recommendations
● City In-House Drainage Study
○ Fournier explained that they worked with Garver to create this
○ Shows the prioritized projects and associated costs
○ Fournier noted that some of of these projects are at locations that are privately-owned
○ Mayor said that many of the resources that the Stormwater team uses come from Streets
○ Mayor asked “how do we get Stormwater to be a standalone utility?”
○ Partain asked goals:
■ 3 more employees & a Stormwater analyst
○ Staples asked if a stormwater fee is common
■ Fournier said surrounding cities like Hot Springs have stormwater fees
● Stormwater Utility Fund
○ Fournier explained that this can only fund projects, not staffing
○ $3 fee started in 2015 and has never been adjusted
○ $636,000 comes from Streets to help Stormwater; Streets basically sustains Stormwater
○ Portion is funded by sales tax
● Ongoing Rate Analysis
○ Fournier explained that the rate analysis has begun and is ongoing
● Staples asked what other cities do
○ Fournier will bring these numbers back to committee next meeting
● Asked committee to keep up withSB518
● Next meeting, the committee hopes to make recommendation of Stormwater Master Plan to council
Adjournment: 7:28, motion by Meyer; 2nd by Staples
Next meeting: May 15 at 6:00 PM in Conference Room [Next meeting May 20, 6pm]
Browse MySaline’s list of all the events in Saline County, at… www.mysaline.com/events.
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