City Councilor David Jones found himself between the proverbial rock and a hard place Monday night:

Raising stormwater rates would help alleviate residential flooding problems in Muskogee, but it could also have a serious adverse effect on Muskogee businesses.

He said the stormwater issue was one of the toughest he has faced on the City Council.

“I really don’t know what to do,” Jones said. “You’ve got to help the people. We’ve got to (raise rates) sometime.”

Jones said he has talked with several people about the flooding issues and with several business owners about how tough the economy is.

The Council voted to change its ordinance on stormwater management, but rejected a resolution that would have increased fees to businesses and institutions other than schools beginning June 1.

The fee will remain at a maximum of $4 for each business. It is based on water meter size, said Mike Stewart, director of public works.

If the new fee had been adopted, businesses would have been charged $1 for each 2,650 square foot of impervious surface in their operation.

The fee, which had a cap of $250 per customer, would have increased over the years and the ceiling would have been removed.

Jones told City Manager Greg Buckley he would like to see the Council review the proposal again when the city’s sales tax receipts return to the pre-economic crisis levels.

Reach Liz McMahan at 684-2926 or lmcmahan@muskogeephoenix.com.

(This story has been edited to correct an error in the original version)