OTTUMWA — Put it on the table. Discuss it. Add a credit system.

That’s what the Ottumwa City Council plans for “it” — the proposed storm-water ordinance, which was up for its second reading during this week’s meeting.

The council wanted more discussion and information and voted unanimously to table the ordinance, which means the proposed law will start over in the approval process.

Public Works Director Larry Seals brought the proposed ordinance to the council because the new law is required by the city’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) NPDES permit, which was issued by Iowa Department of Natural Resources. NPDES stands for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

Councilman Keith Caviness asked if anyone in the city will be able to voice their concerns about the rates the new utility will charge.

Seals said the second reading was before the council and he would answer any questions. He said the best method for business may be a credit system, which he planned to present at a later meeting.

Councilman Bob Meyers said he had “read and re-read” the storm-water information and didn’t like “being told we have to do them.”

“This all goes back to the DNR. They issued that permit and now we have to do nine or 10 things,” he added.

“Yes, there are certain goals, samples, rules and ordinances that have to be done,” Seals said. “It’s another unfunded mandate.”

The city’s MS4 permit sets out additional requirements for testing and sampling of every point source within the city limits, according to Seals’ staff report.

The permit also requires these unfunded mandates:

• Development of a storm-water pollution prevention and management program.

• Public education and outreach on storm-water impacts.

• Public involvement and participation.

• Illicit discharge detection and elimination.