Contractors will have more to think about before they start digging under new storm water ordinance the Beatrice City Council unanimously approved Monday night.
The storm water, erosion and sediment control ordinance requires contractors or other builders to place erosion and sediment-control devices on construction sites.
This new ordinance is part of the federal requirements the city of Beatrice must comply with to formulate a Storm Water Management Plan from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act of 1972.
“It is another step someone is going to have to jump through, but that’s what the law is,” Jim Bauer, city administrator and Board of Public Works general manager, said.
Under the new ordinance, contractors must place devices to prevent erosion and sediment runoff into the city’s storm water system as contractors are now responsible for whatever comes off their site, Gary Willard, city storm water coordinator, said.
“There are little things a contractor can do to stop that stuff,” he said.
This ordinance requires builders to use best management practices such as installation of silt fences around the site, proper disposal of materials and wastes and graveled driveways so that vehicles do not track dirt off the site, Willard said.
The city also is allowed to inspect these sites to ensure that the regulations are being followed.
Those contractors working on an acre or more would also be required to receive a state building permit.
The city understands that this will be a change for contractors and they will be assisting with getting the information out and conducting educational training for it, Willard said.