The Manheim Township board of commissioners held a public meeting on Sept. 13 at the Manheim Township Public Library, where the creation of a temporary Stormwater Management Task Force was discussed and approved. The purpose of this task force is to conduct research and present the board of commissioners with information and advice on the best course of action for Manheim Township regarding stormwater management permit regulations, community stormwater improvement projects, and the potential introduction of a stormwater management utility (fee).

Manheim Township's engineer and public works director reported in June that by 2023 the township will need to allocate over $3 million per year just to keep up with EPA and DEP mandates. The task force will need to explore ways to pay for these mandates.

The Manheim Township Stormwater Management Task Force will consist of 11 members. Five seats were open as of Sept. 20, with separate qualifications for each seat. Applications may be found at http://bit.ly/MT-Volunteer-App. Applicants should select Special Task Force or Study on the application and email the application to info@manheimtownship.org for consideration.

All members will be appointed by the board of commissioners. The task force will hold one regular monthly meeting, with public record of such meetings and minutes to be posted at http://www.manheimtownship.org. The Stormwater Management Task Force will complete its work and present its report to the board of commissioners on or before Monday, April 11, 2022, at which point the task force will have completed its assigned task and cease to exist.