HOWLAND Township works to ease flooding in old and new neighborhoods

The trustees want more authority to enforce new storm water regulations.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- Township Administrator Darlene St. George recalls the first time she was embarrassed at a public meeting: It was in 2003 and the Mahoning Valley had experienced record-breaking rainfall -- causing flooded basements and roads.
That's when residents began crowding township trustee meetings, looking for help to get rid of the water.
These residents were told that, basically, it's not the township's responsibility to do anything.
There was an approach, however, that St. George and trustees could take to help neighborhoods and to get a foothold on future developments.
Howland is not unlike other communities where storm water systems have been ill planned. They were installed at improper depths with smaller-than-needed pipes.
Storm water removal plans were checked as a "courtesy" by the Trumbull County Engineer's Office, but still nobody was checking to see if the plans that met minimum state standards were carried out, St. George explained.
"We needed help," the administrator recalled, noting that the township wanted a water engineer to conduct an assessment of the lines.
Hired engineers
As a result, URS Corp., the world's largest engineering design firm, was paid $89,000 by the township to help upgrade storm water regulations and assist in applying for state grants.
URS and Trumbull County Planning Commission have mapped out the lines so the township knows where they are located.
St. George said URS is conducting on-site inspections to assure that plans are being followed properly.
Mark Zuppo, zoning inspector, said the cost of inspections is paid by developers. For example, it costs a developer $2,600 to have on-site inspections on one to 20 lots.
"Developers have to be accountable for their own storm water," St. George said. "It's an increased cost to developers."
Developers have complained about the added cost by asserting it will stop building in the township.
"They don't like the oversight," St. George noted. She argues that the diversity of land use in the township means development won't stop.
The only township
The Home Builders/Remodelers Association of the Mahoning Valley has questioned why the township was the only one in the county to hire URS. The HBA also asserts that a countywide storm water plan should be developed to more evenly spread out the cost.
"We have to do what we have to do to take care of business," St. George said.
There are ways to help get rid of storm water in older neighborhoods. The township has bought at sheriff's sale about a dozen vacant lots near Sunnybrook and Stoneybrook drives off North Road.
The township will now apply for a state grant to build a retention pond to curb flooding.
More authority sought
To increase local control of stormwater issues, trustees want more authority in enforcing revamped stormwater regulations. Trustees will hold the first of two public hearings on placing these regulations under the township's home-rule authority, at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday before their next regular meeting.
Under the proposal, the township would be able to issue a stop-work order if a storm system is being improperly installed. Currently the township must go to court to get such an order -- which is sometimes a time-consuming process.
yovich@vindy.com