STORM WATER STUDY Trustees seek answers to flooding problems

The flooding problems include flooded basements and excessive runoff.
By MARY SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township trustees will have a second meeting with a local engineering firm May 27 to continue discussing how to resolve flooding problems in three township areas.
The areas of concern are Morris Street east of state Route 46; County Line-Ohltown-Girard Road west of Niles-Carver Road; and the Oakview subdivision, off Salt Springs Road.
Trustees hired MS Consultants, Engineers, Architects and Planners of Youngstown in November to do a study of the trouble spots, said James Stoddard, trustee chairman.
The trustees paid the company $9,400 to conduct the study and received a copy of its report in March.
Trustees and township administrator David Pugh had the first of two planned discussions on the problems with MS representatives Dave Tabak and Gary Diorio on Thursday.Stoddard explained that trustees and Pugh plan to take updated pictures of the problem areas for the next meeting with MS.
Many homes in the affected areas have experienced basement flooding, erosion and excessive runoff problems, and yards that are inundated after heavy rains, Stoddard said.
What's being tried
Trustees hired the engineering firm to give them information about the township's underground infrastructure and offer solution options.
Stoddard said the township may be able to find grant money to help pay for any work suggested, or the township may be able to fund some corrective measures.
A second work session on the MS study and the water problems is planned for 9 a.m. May 27, Stoddard added.
He said some options discussed this week were redirecting storm water flow, detaining it or digging larger storm ditches.
Stoddard added that the number of township areas affected by excess storm water runoff has been increasing.