In Hubbard, officials focus on storm debris

The mayor says he's been trying to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The city administration and council are trying to figure out how to get debris out of Mud Run Creek that overflows during heavy rains.
The dilemma surfaced during council's caucus session before its Monday night meeting.
The creek overflowed its banks during last summer's thunderstorms and again during heavy rainfall Sept. 9, causing the flooding of North Main Street and homes along the creek.
Councilman William Williams, D-at large, suggested that lawmakers set aside $10,000 to hire a private company to remove storm debris.
In some areas, large fallen trees have clogged the creek. It will take heavy equipment to get the logs out of the water and hauled away.
Williams pointed out that his Williams Machine Shop on North Main has flooded four or five times and came close again Friday.
Mayor Arthur U. Magee explained that he has been attempting to reach the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh, but keeps getting recordings.
Magee said he has asked for help from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, to contact the corps.
What must be done first
Service Director Al Patrick told council that the city must first go through the Trumbull County Engineer's Office for an assessment before the corps can be approached.
The representative from the county engineer was scheduled to be in Hubbard on Friday but canceled because of the rain.
Lawmakers decided to wait for the county evaluation before determining the city's next step.
Patrick also told council that he is refusing to reconnect utilities if the bills are delinquent.
Most of the delinquencies are on rental properties. When he has refused to connect the utilities, some landlords have complained.
If a landlord can collect the rent, he can also collect delinquencies before being allowed to rent the property again, Patrick said.
Magee said flooding will continue in the city. It will take money through passage of a 0.5-percent increase in the city income tax that will appear on the Nov. 2 general election to fund the solutions.
In expressing optimism that the issue will pass, the mayor said the campaign committee will begin to convince senior citizens that the city needs the added income, or $900,000 annually from the levy.
The campaign will include taking seniors to city-owned facilities to show them what needs to be improved, such as the police station and service center that houses the lighting and street departments and part of the sewer and sanitary sewer departments.
yovich@vindy.com