It's time Boardman leaders act to control flooding EDITOR:

It's time Boardman leadersact to control floodingEDITOR:
Well, not even nine months later and Boardman Township residents experienced flooding again last weekend. The news articles quoted township officials stating "there were less calls than last summer." A good question would be why would anyone call if they have been doing so for many years without any results?
Reading our township officials' statements in the news can be very taxing. In the past nine months, we read news that Lake Newport has a flood control gate that may help. Only days later we hear from park officials that there is no flood control gate in existence. It is a gate used to lower the lake's level for maintenance.
Next we read how a local business is designing its new establishment for "100-year floods." There is no mention, however, of the numerous developements recently constructed without any retention systems at all. The brutal reality is it's too late to design anything in our area for "100- year floods." The bottom line is that the existing infrastructure is inadequate and needs redesigned and repaired.
Last fall a few of our local residents with some technical background conducted a survey of their neighborhood to determine why we are getting flooded. Preliminary calculations indicate a severe inadequacy in the drainage sytem. We presented these numbers to our township officials last fall. We guaranteed that if action isn't taken immediately, we would be flooded again and with less rainfall. And we were, last weekend.
Our township officials spent this time conducting meetings and inserting pins in maps locating critical areas. Now what's the action plan? We hear that the cost of repairs may not be affordable. Well, how much more must the residents be forced to afford? Many have lost insurance for making too many claims, not to mention their personal financial losses.
Recent township news addresses nuisance properties in our area and what to do to eliminate them. By chance does anyone think the flooding problem is contributing greatly to these nuisance proerties? Absolutely. Who wants to invest any more time and money in their homes if they have to keep bailing water and sewage when it rains?
Too much time has been wasted. County and township officials must hire an engineering firm, allocate the funding and make the neccessary corrections quickly. No more excuses. The plan should be to make our area livable by preserving property value - not force everyone out for lack of effort in solving this flooding problem.
PAT DeCHELLIS
Boardman
Anti-Bush demonstratorshad good reason to protestEDITOR:
The writer who was dismayed about the protesters and their anti-Bush signs during the president's recent visit to Youngstown deserves to be enlightened. This visit was in no way designed to help the Valley. Rather, it was a staged gathering with a pre-selected audience. The writer suggests that signs declaring "Bush, please help us" should have replaced the negative ones.
Bush has had almost four years to offer help and has done nothing; this visit was far less productive than when Clinton visited Youngstown several years ago. At least Clinton welcomed everyone to meet him in the downtown!
In no way was a "negative light" placed upon our area for the actions of people exercising their rights as Americans; there were no reported problems with the peaceful protesters.
It is certain that Bush will encounter thousands of protesters during the upcoming months. He has been ineffective as a president and leader, and people need not bow to him simply because the writer hails him as the "most powerful man in the world who would like to help our community."
The letter fails to mention specifics as to how or when Bush has ever shown an interest in our area. One sign which was most poignant was "No one died when Clinton lied."
CAROL JEAN HIRT
Campbell