Official says reservoir would help

Development occurs ahead of planning for rainwater runoff, one official said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Local, state and federal officials should revisit an old idea to help reduce flooding in southern Mahoning and northern Columbiana counties, Village Administrator Gary Phillips said.
"A reservoir would serve as a detention facility, provide a water source and a place for recreation," Phillips said.
"Flooding is getting worse every year, and development is a big part of the problem. Every year we build more, and that means there is more concrete -- in driveways and streets and sidewalks and parking lots -- and less ground to absorb the rainwater."
Phillips said the idea of building a second reservoir at some location that would help reduce flooding in those areas isn't new. The city of Salem operates a reservoir that straddles Salem and Center townships.
"I talked to several of our older residents, and they said county and state and federal officials tossed around the idea of building a reservoir, but it never went anywhere," he said.
"One man in his 80s said the floods do get worse every year, and this recent flooding is the worst he's ever seen. I think a lot of the reason is because we are building more things than we ever have before."
What causes flooding
Phillips said he favors development, but it needs to be more controlled. He said much of the flooding is the result of development happening before plans are in place to deal with rainwater runoff.
He said creating reservoirs would be expensive, but so is continuing to pay each year to repair flood damage, not only in Leetonia, but many other Mahoning Valley communities as well.
U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, toured Leetonia and other county communities this week to survey the flood damage.
"Congressman Strickland will try to get us some federal help, and we're grateful for that," Phillips said. "FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] helped us a lot last year.
"We also need to look at some long-term solutions," Phillips added. "We can't just keep paying to clean up after the floodwaters go down. We need to give the water a place to go, or one of these days it won't just be property that's lost. It's going to be people's lives."
Village workers had barely completed repairs throughout the village from 2003 flooding when recent heavy rains not only ruined the repairs, but caused additional damage to businesses and homes.
"Planning a reservoir should involve everyone," Phillips said. "You have to look at where the creeks are and where the water flows. There are a lot of streams and creeks through the area, and now they're overflowing. There's nowhere for the water to go but where you don't want it to."