STACY DRIVE State offers money to prevent flooding

There's not enough money to solve all the flooding problems, the mayor said.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Some unexpected money from the state will be used to relieve flooding in the village.
At its meeting Monday, New Middletown Village Council accepted a 20-year $150,000 interest-free loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission for storm sewers and curbing on Stacy Drive, as well as resurfacing and partial resurfacing of six streets.
Drainage problems on Stacy were aggravated by the recent heavy rains and the work should help alleviate it, council members agreed.
Mayor Robert Carson asked residents on other streets who experienced water backup and drainage problems from recent rains to notify the village and provide written documentation and pictures if possible. He said that this information will be filed and could help obtain grants.
Other areas
Carson said that in addition to Stacy Drive, he knows of flooding at Ward and Renee drives and at Foster and Linford drives. Gail Roland, of Foster Drive, brought pictures of flooding at her home and expressed frustration that the water has "nowhere to go." Carson agreed there is a problem there but added that there is not enough money to do what is necessary to stop the flooding.
In other business:
Rex Cyrus asked the village to allow him to drain his Struthers Road property into a village storm sewer. He plans to build automation equipment in an old barn on property across from the Springfield Township Fire Station. The land is in Springfield Township but the storm drain would be in the village. Council had concerns because the property would drain into the Stacy Drive area. Officials asked him for runoff calculations to see whether it would impact anyone downstream.
Council agreed to pay Ohio Edison $2,600 to trim 42 trees along Main Street (state Route 170). The trees are dropping branches onto the road after storms and causing a hazard.
Council agreed to hire M & amp;M Excavating, Springfield Township, to build a 210-foot, 60-inch wide sidewalk from Chaszeyka Realty to Woodland Avenue for $5,860. The sidewalk will allow children to walk from the elementary school to the new library.
Council member Dan Santangelo complained that blinker lights at three village locations have not been working for three months and asked that a complaint be lodged with the electric company.
Council accepted the resignation of Andrew Soloman, who was hired in July as a police officer.