In Niles, council to OK costs for emergency cleanup

By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Though the waters have receded, the costs associated with cleaning up from recent floods continue to rise.
Council will meet Wednesday and approve funding for several emergency cleanup items, including the removal of two trees from Meander Creek.
Randy Fabrizio, superintendent of the city's water department, told council finance committee members Monday that workers from Jungle Jim Tree Service last week cut and removed two large trees from the creek at a cost of $18,000.
High water from the July 21 storms washed away soil at the roots of the trees, Fabrizio said, knocking them over, blocking the creek and backing up a sewer between First Street and McKees Lane.
More flooding July 27 prevented workers from getting back to the area and assessing the damage. "We couldn't even get anyone back there for an estimate until last week," he said.
Fabrizio said the only other bid on the project came in at $55,000.
Other needed repairs were done at Ravine Court, where a portion of the ravine washed away and a sanitary sewer failed, he said. The cost of that project came in at $36,264.
Mayor Ralph A. Infante said some of the repair costs can be recouped by the city with insurance claims and assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"We are putting in for everything we had to fix," he said.
Infante also informed committee members that he's created a floodwaters task force, composed of several city officials. The group is meeting with residents from areas hit hardest by flooding to compile a list of work that should be done to correct problems and repair damage.
"My plan is to get ready for council a list of projects and get a price for what we can do next year," he said.
slshaulis@vindy.com