MONEY TRANSFER Project to solve flooding problem

The legislation is likely to receive first reading at tonight's council meeting.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city is inching its way toward addressing the flooded streets and waterlogged homes prevalent last summer.
An ordinance on tonight's agenda would appropriate $165,000 from the sewerage mortgage capital improvements fund for engineering and design work on a project to separate downtown sewers. The account has about $266,000 in it, according to Auditor David Griffing.
Last year, council passed a 76-cent sewer rate increase, allocating 31 percent of the increase to construction; 15 percent to a reserve fund; and 54 percent to operation, maintenance and replacement at the water pollution control plant.
Griffing said the increase is bringing in about $37,000 per month in the construction portion, which constitutes the sewerage mortgage capital improvements fund.
Councilman John Homlitas, D-3rd, one of the legislation's sponsors, said he will likely seek first reading on the ordinance, citing the need for discussion.
Background
At the time the increase passed, an anticipated shortfall in the water pollution control department, which has experienced falling revenues the past few years, was cited as the reason it was needed.
The previous administration and a consultant that performed a sewer rate study listed decreasing population, water conservation, and a decreased industrial and commercial base as reasons the department's revenues have dropped.
Combined sewers are one of the contributors to flooding that hit the city last summer. An infiltration and inflow study started earlier this year to evaluate the best way to fix inflow problems and identify the costs, preventing sewer backup by disconnecting footer drains, and implementing downspout inspection and preventive maintenance are the other components of a master plan.
The entire master plan, aimed at curbing flooding, will take several years and a few million dollars to complete.