Condo association worries about creek that floods

Some residents complained about the speed limit on Herbert Road.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- A creek that runs through the Carriage Hill Condominium Association's property off Hillside Drive is causing flooding and fears that children who play in it will get sick, says the condo association's president.
Justine Moritz told the city council at its meeting Wednesday that when it rains, water from Hillside floods through the normally small creek and swamps the banks, and some condo owners are in danger of flooded basements.
She said, also, that water from Fairground Boulevard on the other side of the condo complex backs up into the creek and contributes to the flooding.
Tests at Youngstown State University also revealed that the water, in which children in the complex play, is full of E. coli and other bacteria, she said. She said she's afraid that someone's child will get meningitis.
She said the association would like to see the creek dredged and enclosed in pipe.
Private property
Charles Tieche, city manager, said council could choose to spend money to maintain the creek. But because the association's property is private, the council is not obligated to do so.
Moritz said, however, that even though the property is private, the rainwater that floods the creek comes from "half the city."
"We can't keep up with it. It's outrageous," she said.
Moritz said the association is willing to participate in the cost of maintaining the creek, but pointed out that the condo owners pay taxes to the city, and the city is contributing to the flooding problem.
City attorney Mark Fortunato said he wants time to study the issue before he makes a recommendation to the council.
Speed limit
The council is also taking more time to consider a speed limit change on part of Herbert Road. The speed limit on the road, within the city limits, is 25 mph, which has prompted some residents to question whether it's a speed trap, said Tieche and council members.
Tieche said the city changed the limit from 35 mph to 25 mph in 1995 because of residential growth. He said that in 2005, more than 4,000 cars a day used the road. Two-hundred-two citations and warnings were given last year, 167 of which were warnings. He said that if the area were a speed trap, police would be giving out more citations. "It [the speed limit] was designed for public safety," he said.
Council members said they have feedback that suggests Herbert residents are happy with the 25 mph limit. "There aren't as many tickets as people think," said council president Andrew Skrobola.
City engineer Gary Diorio said the firm MS Consultants did a study in February that recommends raising the speed limit to 35 mph eastbound from Turner Road from the city limits for 1,000 feet, on the south side of the road only. The area is not residential, he said. The north side of the road is not in the city.