GIRARD City awaits federal opinion on damage

A government agency estimated up to $2.7 million in damages.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Tom Olshavsky is frustrated.
"Nobody will fess up," Olshavsky said as he looked at the mud in his closed 422 Truck Parts & amp; Service Co.
Olshavsky says mud from the state Route 711 connector highway being constructed nearby rolled off the construction area, across U.S. Route 422 and into his low-lying business.
"How am I going to make a living?" he asked.
Randall C. Newhouser, an officer in Shelly & amp; Sands Inc., which is building the road, says that isn't so.
"Yes, water is coming off the hill, but not impeding drainage," Newhouser said, noting his company has received several complaints.
Olshavsky says even his insurance company is calling the mess in his building "an act of God."
"What do I do in the meantime?" said Olshavsky, who has owned the business for 31/2 years and estimates his loss at $250,000.
It's just one business that was flooded in Sunday night's downpour.
Assessing the damage
Mayor James J. Melfi met Tuesday with representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess the damage to the town.
Melfi said FEMA estimates flood damage to city-owned facilities at between $2.5 million and $2.7 million.
Melfi explained that because Gov. Bob Taft has declared a state of emergency, the state will reimburse the city 75 percent of its loss.
If a federal disaster is declared, the city will receive 78 percent from the federal government and 121/2 percent from the state.
The sewage treatment plant suffered about $1.5 million in damage, itself, Melfi said, pointing out that all the controls, all but one pump and the computers were destroyed.
A $200,000 vacuum truck was also lost.
Melfi said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is allowing sewage to dump into Little Squaw Creek as long as increased amounts of chlorine are added to the discharge.
There is about $400,000 damage to streets and catch basins as all but one block of Amherst Avenue and one block of Broadway Avenue were washed away.
Liberty and Tod parks suffered more than $100,000 damage.
Melfi said FEMA told him it should take about two weeks to receive the 75-percent reimbursement.
New cracks at dam
At the Lower Girard Lake dam, new cracks in two bays have been spotted.
The mayor said all the valves are open in an attempt to relieve pressure on the aged concrete dam.
Melfi said the Ohio Department of Natural Resources also called for daily inspection of the dam so there could be early warning to residents downstream if it appears the dam would give way.
yovich@vindy.com