Deadline looms for decision on dam

Plans for a temporary breach had been drawn up in 2001.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Council members now know it will cost about $100,000 to have preliminary plans drawn up for breaching Lower Girard Lakes dam -- but getting started on those plans will have to wait at least two weeks.
Councilman Michael Costarella introduced an amended ordinance Monday that would authorize the mayor and safety service director to enter an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to begin drawing up the plans. The ordinance was tabled in a 4-3 vote, however, to be introduced again at council's next meeting.
Councilmen Costarella and Frank Migliozzi both expressed concern that waiting will further delay the process and ultimately drive the city into further court dealings with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Richard Hancock and Kathy Anderson of the Corps Pittsburgh District told council it will cost about $100,000 to draw up preliminary breach plans. A complete set of plans may cost more, they said.
Hancock said the Corps has $40,000 available for the project but will need an additional $60,000 from the city.
Something needed soon
Hancock told council that half of the plans would not be ready by the Aug. 1 deadline set by the Ohio attorney general's office. They could be ready by the end of August if council would vote in favor of allowing the process to begin.
Girard has a consent agreement with the state that says the city must submit partial plans by Aug. 1 to either breach or repair the dam. Completed plans must be submitted by year's end.
Hancock said the Corps, could prepare a technical document by the end of August to show what the city's intentions are and what steps will be taken to get to that point. He said that should be sufficient as half of the plans.
"I feel very confident that will satisfy the ODNR. That is the easiest way for us to make progress and show that you are complying with the consent order," he said.
Law Director Mark Standohar said he has spoken extensively with ODNR representatives. They have agreed to hold off on any further court action against the city if they see the city has taken steps to come to some sort of agreement with the Corps or a private company to address safety issues at the dam. Any pointless delays, however, will not be tolerated, he said.
New use for old plan?
Some council members say they may have found an easier means of addressing the attorney general's request for breach plans.
Councilman Tom Seidler said the city had plans drawn up in 2001 for repair of the dam and those documents included plans for a temporary breach. He said those temporary plans are sufficient to withstand a 100-year flood and may meet ODNR requirements.
Councilman Joe Shelby took issue with the city administration for not bringing the plans containing a temporary breach measure forward sooner. He said nobody in the city seemed to know where the plans were when he asked for them.
"We didn't know this until now, four years and 10 months after receiving these plans, and we still don't know until we talk to the ODNR," he said. "No one in the administration said, 'Hey -- there are temporary breach plans in these plans.'"
Safety Service Director Jerry Lambert said it is unfair to blame the administration for not pointing out the possibility. He said the plans may not even meet ODNR requirements.
Hancock said he is unsure if the plans containing methods for a partial breach are sufficient to meet ODNR demands. He said he would have to take a closer look at them before making that determination.
jgoodwin@vindy.com