BOARDMAN Over $1M in '06 budget to address flooding

By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- About $1.25 million will be reserved in the township's 2006 budget to address flooding.
At a special meeting Monday, trustees heard an update from MS Consultants of Youngstown on the township's storm water runoff correction plans.
The top six priorities identified by MS and township officials are:
UThe Ewing Road-Brookfield Avenue retention area, which would address flooding issues there and in the Ridgewood Estates housing development.
UThe South Shore Drive retention project, which involves cleaning out a retention pond. "With it [retention pond] being overgrown, it's not holding water back the way it should," said Larry Wilson, road department superintendent.
UThe Tara Drive-Alverne Drive retention area on Boardman Park property.
UImproving retention areas along Westview Drive.
UImproving retention areas behind the Shops at Boardman Park.
UEnlargement of a storm sewer pipe at Ridgefield Avenue-Midwood Circle.
Gary Diorio of MS Consultants and Wilson both said the priorities were identified based on available funding and need.
Diorio said the identified projects also may alleviate flooding in other township areas for which funding isn't available.
The six priority projects total about $1.25 million, and township Clerk William Leicht said the money would be reserved in next year's budget for the work.
Class-action lawsuit
Earlier this year, township residents were among those who filed a class-action lawsuit against the township, city of Youngstown, Mahoning County commissioners, county sanitary engineer, Austintown, Canfield, Poland, Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District, the state of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and multiple unidentified pump operators from the communities.
The suit contends that the entities were negligent in not resolving runoff problems that caused flooding and sewage backups at their homes and businesses for years.
After heavy rains in summer 2003 caused water woes for Boardman residents, officials developed a list of projects aimed at alleviating the problems. Some of those were identified as regional and others as projects the township could complete using its own funds.
Some require state grants.
The township already has addressed or is in the process of addressing more than $900,000 in projects. Completed projects include an $82,425 storm sewer upgrade from East Parkside Drive to Spring Park Drive and miscellaneous ditch clearing through the township for $10,000.
Lease OK'd for substation
In other business, trustees approved a five-year lease at $20,167 per year, including utilities, for a police substation at 5000 Market St., which is in the township's northern section. The property is owned by Davis Funeral Home.
They also approved $43,000 in work to ready the facility for police use, which includes installation of various telecommunication equipment.
Trustee Kathy Miller voted against the lease agreement, questioning whether it matched other rental agreements in that township area.
"I'm objecting to the price. I'm not objecting to the location," Miller said.
Police Chief Jeffrey Patterson, who didn't attend the meeting, previously has said that crime in the northern end of the township is on the rise.