YELLOW CREEK Corps of engineers, library try to find cause of flooding

The board plans to sell library buildings in Lowellville and North Lima.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find out why Yellow Creek alongside the Poland Library overflowed its banks and washed over a retaining wall during heavy rains this spring.
The creek exceeded its 100-year flood plain by 4 feet, flowing over a 2-foot high retaining wall and seeping into the library, drenching carpet and ruining books that were on the floor of the Friends of the Library bookstore, said Janet Loew, director of communications and public relations.
"Because of the good materials used in the construction of the library, we really didn't get flooding, we got seepage," Loew said. The only losses were a few books and some damage sustained by the retaining wall.
Loew suspects more water has been diverted into the creek over the last year, possibly the result of new construction upstream. When several homes and businesses in the Boardman/Poland area were flooded last year, Loew noted, the library remained dry.
"So we're working with the Corps of Army Engineers to see if there's anything that can be done," she said. Loew explained the situation after a meeting of the library's board of trustees Thursday afternoon at the Poland library branch.
Wants to sell
During the meeting, the board adopted a resolution to sell the branch libraries in North Lima and Lowellville. The board closed the buildings recently, citing low patronage.
Giving the properties as gifts to the communities also is a possibility if no buyers are found.
Carlton A. Sears, library executive director, said there are "multiple interests in the North Lima building." The same is not true of the Lowellville building, he added.
The board also adopted a resolution authorizing the building and sites committee and the executive director to investigate options for repairing a retaining wall adjoining St. John's Episcopal Church on the north property line of the Main Library at Wick and Rayen avenues in Youngstown.
The building and sites committee said the wall has significantly deteriorated, resulting in parts of it tilting and raising, which could damage the library parking area.
The board also passed a resolution honoring Emanuel N. Catsoules and recognizing his contributions.
Catsoules, who died recently, had served on the board since 1985.
kubik@vindy.com