NILES Residents seek action from council, hear about floodwaters task force

Development in the city will require larger storm water retention containers.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Residents packed council chambers to tell their flood-related stories and ask city officials what can be done to prevent such disasters.
Several citizens from throughout the city spent more than an hour Wednesday telling council about flooded basements, condemned homes and damaged property from the July 21 and 27 floods that affected the Mahoning Valley.
Major concerns centered on where they could turn for help, as well as what the city is doing to make sure the city isn't devastated if the rains return.
Tom Telego, the city's disaster coordinator, said establishing a chain of command is one of the highest priorities.
"We are working to make sure we are better organized" if such flooding happens again, he said.
Telego and several council members also informed citizens that Mayor Ralph A. Infante has established a floodwaters task force, composed of several city officials.
The group is currently meeting with residents from areas hit hardest by flooding to compile a list of work to correct problems and repair damage.
The mayor expects to present a prioritized list of projects to council at the Sept. 3 meeting.
Council also took steps to help control increased use of the city's storm water system as development continues.
What's being done
By a unanimous vote, the lawmakers approved legislation requiring all future business and residential development to include larger retention containers.
Currently, developers are required to construct retention ponds or tanks to collect storm water and hold it until the system can funnel it away. The recent heavy rains severely taxed the system, so the ordinance calls for larger retention containers.
Councilman Stephen Papalas said he expects developers to oppose the new requirements based on increased costs and labor, but he said it's a necessity.
"This is something that has to occur from now on," he said. "Council will just have to be strong."
Backed-up storm sewers and flooded roads caused more than $500,000 damage to the city's infrastructure alone, Telego said. He and other city officials have met with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine what costs the city can recoup through federal and state funding.
After insurance claims are settled, Telego said, FEMA has agreed to cover 75 percent of the remaining costs, as well as insurance deductibles. After that, he added, the state will cover an additional 121/2 percent of the costs associated with repair and replacement.
slshaulis@vindy.com