State addresses plans for dam's safety issue

Congress is considering $5.5 million for work on the dam.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Although the safety issue of Lower Girard Lake dam has seemingly dropped off the radar, the Ohio attorney general hasn't been ignoring it.
"The attorney general's office hasn't forgotten the dam," Mayor James J. Melfi said.
The mayor's comments came after he received a Nov. 2 letter from Atty. Joan I. Fishel, an assistant attorney general representing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Water.
Fishel wrote that she needs to know how the city intends to comply with a Jan. 12 ODNR directive to bring the dam into compliance with the state's safety laws by May 2006.
Fishel wrote that it's her understanding that a decision on breaching the dam vs. repairing it would be made before the end of the year.
The problem is that the city is waiting to see if federal funds will be appropriated for the work.
A schedule to repair or breach the aged dam prepared by the Army Corps of Engineers and submitted to ODNR calls for breach plans being approved by the city by March 30, 2005, and repair plans approved by June 30, 2005.
Fishel said Tuesday that lowering the top of the concrete dam by 12.5 feet from the top constitutes dam repair.
When federal funds will be available are up in the air, Mary Ann Walsh, chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17, said Tuesday.
A request for $12.5 million has been rejected, Walsh said, because the corps believes it's too expensive. The corps has proposed $5.5 million for dam work.
The House Subcommittee on Resources and Environment supports the Senate plan to fund the $5.5 million, she explained.
The city has drained the lower lake to keep the pressure off the dam, although it tends to somewhat refill during periods of heavy rain because the water cannot be released fast enough.
Meanwhile, Councilman John Moliterno, chairman of council's community development committee, says lawmakers are looking to come up with a development plan for the lakes and the land around them by the end of 2005.
"It's something they should do," Melfi said.
A major stumbling in developing the area is the lack of water and sanitary sewer services. Melfi pointed out that the city and Liberty Township are applying for state funds to construct waterlines in Liberty, bringing them closer to the lakes.
However, there are no plans to service the area with sewers, he added.
yovich@vindy.com