NILES Flooding problem detailed

The city installed a sanitary sewer line about 10 years ago to alleviate sewer backup.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A councilman and one of his neighbors have written a letter to the other council members to document flooding at one city intersection.
Council President Fremont Camerino read the letter from Councilman Paul Hogan, R-4th, and David Crish at Wednesday's council meeting.
Hogan said he was writing the letter to document the 30-year flooding problem at the intersection of John Street and Helen Avenue because the administration has told him that the problem has never been documented. The area is part of Hogan's ward.
"That intersection has flooded for years," said Mark Hess, city engineering, grants and development coordinator.
The city installed a sanitary sewer line about 10 years ago to alleviate flooding caused by the sanitary sewers, he said.
Problem continues: "That did not address the storm sewer problem at that intersection," he said.
Hogan said houses near the intersection continue to experience sanitary sewer backups during heavy rains like those earlier this month.
Donald Allen, city safety director, lives in the neighborhood and said he hasn't had any problems with sanitary backup since the line was installed.
Hogan said that one of Allen's neighbors had two feet of water in their house and lost more than $2,000 in wrapped Christmas gifts because of sanitary backup during this month's rains.
Hess said he would talk to Mayor Ralph A. Infante Jr., who is on vacation, when he returns about the problem.
Other matters: Camerino also read a letter from C. William Burgess, council's appointee to the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District board of directors, saying he's interested in being reappointed.
Burgess' term expires next month. Council is accepting application for appointment to the board through May 7. The term is for three years. Applications may be sent to Lisa Smathers, clerk of council, 34 W. State St., Niles.
The board consists of four members -- one appointed each by the mayor and city council of Niles and Youngstown, the member cities. The district supplies water from the Meander Reservoir to about 300,000 customers in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
In other business, council members discussed legislation strengthening the city's vicious dog ordinance. Law Director J. Terrence Dull said he's received copies of legislation from other cities that specify certain breeds as vicious.
Some of them apply the label to pit bulls, but none specify Rottweilers as vicious, he said.
The city's current law labels a dog vicious after it bites someone and requires the owner to keep the dog caged.