Officials, residents to discuss flood control

Each project will likely be scheduled for an hour meeting.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Meetings will be scheduled with residents of areas where flood control projects are set to inform them how the projects will affect their properties.
Trustees have set aside $1.25 million this year for six flood control projects.
The projects:
*The Ewing Road-Brookfield Avenue retention area, which would address flooding issues there and in the Ridgewood Estates housing development,
*The South Shore Drive retention project, which involves cleaning out a retention pond,
*The Tara Drive-Alverne Drive retention area on Boardman Park property.
*Improving retention areas along Westview Drive,
*Improving retention areas behind the Shops at Boardman Park and
*Enlargement of a storm sewer pipe at Ridgefield Avenue-Midwood Circle.
Those projects were identified as priorities last year by the township and MS Consultants.
Immediate action necessary
Larry Wilson, road superintendent, told trustees he'll prepare a list of residents affected so they can be invited to the public meetings.
Robyn Gallitto, trustees chairwoman, said the meetings haven't been scheduled.
"The meetings are to let people know where their land is involved," said Trustee Kathy Miller, adding that she'd like the meetings scheduled as soon as possible.
"This is something we need to get moving on," she said. "It's been almost three years since we had the first really bad flooding."
Miller said that the Tara Drive project looks like the one where the most people are affected, between 25 and 30 people.
Trustee Elaine Mancini has suggested that each project be scheduled for an hour meeting.
Response to 2003 flooding
After the heavy rains of 2003 caused flooding problems for some township residents, officials compiled a list of projects aimed at alleviating water problems. Some of those were identified as regional issues with other projects picked that the township could complete using its own money.
The township already has done or is in the process of doing 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.
Last year, some township residents were among those who filed a class-action lawsuit against the township, city of Youngstown, Mahoning County commissioners, county sanitary engineer, county engineer, Austintown, Canfield, Poland, Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District, the state and its Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agency and several unidentified pump operators from those communities.