Flooding in Boardman: a developing problem

Flooding in Boardman:a developing problem
EDITOR:
I was one of the many Boardman residents whose home was flooded this past summer. Many had water damage, but there were also those who had raw sewage flood their homes and property.
Since July, a group of residents began attending Boardman Township meetings to get help for the problem. We were told point blank that although our area was considered to be a priority area, "Nothing could be done." One official went so far as to say, "If you think you are coming here [these meetings] to get results, you are mistaken."
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that we have a serious drain and sewer problem on our hands that no one wants to address. These sewer and drain lines may have been adequate 30 or 40 years ago, but with the amount of building that's been done in Boardman, they have become undersized and inadequate.
Building in Boardman continues without hesitation, this has compounded matters and the problem will only get worse. Poor land management has put us in this position, and no one wants to take responsibility to correct the problems.
Recent Vindicator articles completely contradict what we were told at the meetings. How can we believe them now?
In my opinion, Boardman officials are trying to minimize the amount of damage from any pending lawsuits. You need only to look around Boardman to see that the overdevelopment spells out more flooding for its residents. Three hundred residents attended an unpublicized meeting to seek legal counsel. This indicates the magnitude of the problem.
LYNN DeCHELLIS
Boardman
Liberty High School juniormakes case for passing levy
EDITOR:
I am a student at Liberty High School which is experiencing a financial crisis. In short, the school district will face drastic cutbacks if a levy of 7.9 mills is not passed March 2. The impact of the failed levy will be especially important to me, as I am a junior with one year before graduation. Furthermore, those of the lower grades will experience the effects of the vote longer than I will. Should the emergency levy fail to pass, open enrollment will be enacted, each athlete will have to pay $250 per sport just to participate, and all students involved in clubs and similar programs will be charged $85.
The teachers will also have to endure their own hardships. Reductions will occur that shall cause an increase in class size along with a decrease in the number of electives offered. The staff will also have to make do with substandard textbooks and outdated technological resources. Most likely busing will be re-evaluated to include only those students outside a certain radius, proposed at approximately two miles. Furthermore, the school will inevitably be under the control of a state official rather than the board of education.
However, I recognize that this levy will create an increase in property tax. This is a far lower price to pay for the school and its students than any that will be activated if the levy falls. The school needs the support of all those who would be an ally during the crisis. We deserve a chance at a decent education.
BRANDON MARSTELLAR
Girard
Workers on street crewrisk lives for others' safety
EDITOR:
In response to the gentleman who referred in a Feb. 9 letter to the hard-working men of the Youngstown Street Department as an "incompetent bunch of yahoos," let me help to change your negative attitude.
I happen to be the wife of one of them. Let me quickly explain the winter life of one of these tireless men. From the end of December through mid-March, my husband works the night shift. This allows the morning commute for schools and all working people to be safe. He is supposed to work only an eight-hour shift, but this rarely happens. Most nights he is asked to stay 12-16 hours. Also, he is always prepared on a moment's notice to be at work on his days off. He has not missed a scheduled day throughout this horrible weather season.
He is one man in a special team of under 40 workers who risk their lives on the road so that the letter writer and his family are safe. In response to the doughnut comment, he never eats them. He and his fellow workers are too busy!
CINDIE SWITKA
Youngstown