We, the undersigned petitioners do petition the City of Kaukauna to reevaluate Kaukauna's proposed storm water utility and associated fees. The State of Wisconsin DNR has mandated decreases in the sediment of storm water in Kaukauna. The first decrease was a 20% decrease in sediment or solids which the community has met, the second decrease of an overall 40% decrease in sediment or solids must be met by 2013. This mandate from the DNR has been directed by the EPA. The city of Kaukauna in attempting to comply with this mandate is looking to pass a storm water utility fee. These fees are assessed heaviest on businesses but churches, schools, and other non-profit groups are also being assessed a fee based on the amount of impervious area they have (such as parking lots and buildings etc). While clean storm water is important and ensuring the ongoing natural resources of the earth is a vital and necessary endeavor the impact this type of fee has on business, particularly in these economic times, is exorbitant. This ongoing tax/fee is almost three times what our businesses are currently paying for water and sanitary waste treatment. We, the undersigned petitioners do believe that the city needs to find another way to impact the storm water quality. We, the undersigned petitioners also believe the EPA needs to take a look at what is being mandated and the deadlines imposed. The DNR in Wisconsin also needs to evaluate the impact this mandate has on our communities and on the ability of Wisconsin to compete for talent, for jobs, and industrial growth. Additionally, the taxes and fees are a deterrent to growing or expanding business in Wisconsin as well as in Kaukauna. In addition we, the undersigned petitioners, strongly encourage the City of Kaukauna to look into the EPA and DNR mandates and the burden it puts on Kaukauna.

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