CROWN POINT | City residents soon will see a new fee that the city hopes will help prevent them from seeing water in their basements and homes.

The City Council unanimously gave final approval for a new stormwater utility that will be funded by a $6 per household monthly stormwater fee. Commercial properties initially will pay $12 per month, but the city would adjust that rate based on the property's parcel size within 180 days after the utility and fee are adopted.

Two residents spoke at the utility's public hearing. One questioned why it was necessary because he already pays dues to his homeowner's association that looks after his neighborhood retention ponds. The other resident questioned if $6 was enough to fund the necessary projects.

City financial adviser Greg Guerrettaz said that while it would be great to ask for more than $6 per household, the city's wastewater utility is in need of a rate increase and he advised against a higher stormwater fee to not burden taxpayers too much.

Last month, Guerrettaz spent a portion of the meeting breaking down a proposed budget for the stormwater utility. Guerrettaz estimated the fund initially would bring in about $900,000 and then $1.1 million after commercial rates are adjusted.

The proposed budget included items such as two new employees who would work only on stormwater issues, such as clearing ditches and allows for funding to pay for bonds needed to pay for the expensive long-term solutions the city needs.

In other business, the council unanimously passed the proposed salaries for the city's elected officials for 2009. The proposed salary for the mayor is $74,561, up from $72,338, and the clerk-treasurer's salary is proposed at $73,056 up from $70,927.

The city judge's proposed salary is $33,990, and the salary for City Council members will be $7,023.