Main library prepares to protect branch from overflow of creek

The flood wall will have a peaked top to prevent people from climbing on it.
JOSH ECHT
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The Public Library of Youngstown plans to award a contract on a flood wall project for the library here pending an executive board review of the bids received on the project.
The library board wants to erect a flood wall to stop water from pouring into the 4-year-old Poland Branch Library.
Heavy rainfall, the aftereffects of the 2004 hurricane season last fall, worsened previous flooding problems, causing damage to the library's lower level room.
"The flooding takes place where a creek narrows and rounds a corner," said Janet Loew, library board public director.
Bid specifics
Bids were opened June 9, and the library board's executive committee is reviewing them, Loew said.
Three bidders are vying for the contract: Jim Santini Builder Inc., Washingtonville, at $109,700; Proquality Land Development, Struthers, at $194,000; and SET Inc., Lowellville, at $296,047.
Loew said the date for awarding the contract has not been set.
So far,she said, sandbags have been placed strategically around the areas expected to receive the most water damage. The library said it hopes the construction of the wall will make the problem disappear.
The concrete structure, located next to Yellow Creek at the library, will stand 3 feet tall.
"The wall will stand 3 feet above stone sitting on the creek," Loew said. "It will have a design with peaks so people can't walk on it."
The wall starts near a bridge and goes around a bend. It will not interfere with a nearby walkway, she said.
A plan calls for it to be built of colored concrete in order to blend into the scenery.
Loew said scheduled maintenance will take place after the wall is completed.
"We will clean and power wash the building and touch up paint once the wall is constructed," she said.