Breach of dam put up for bid

The breaching process will be reversible.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

GIRARD — City officials have moved one step closer to breaching the Lower Girard Lakes dam, but if funds are found to save the structure, the breaching process can be reversed.

In a meeting this week, council unanimously passed an ordinance authorizing the safety service director to advertise for bids for the partial breach of the dam. The breach plans have been approved by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

“The plans approved by the ODNR are the least invasive to the dam,” Mayor James Melfi said. “Basically, we are going to cut holes, large doors, in the base of the dam that will release any water to build up behind the dam.”

Melfi said the breaching process could be reversed by sealing the large doors that will be cut in the base.

Melfi said city officials are moving the process along to meet a deadline set for the breach by the Ohio attorney general’s office.

“Council took the appropriate action in respect to the fact that the dam has to be breached by April 30, 2008,” he said. “We have a signed consent order with the attorney general’s office.”

There is about $16 million in federal funds set aside to repair the dam and save the structure. But the city would need to come up with $5.6 million in matching funds needed to take advantage of the $16 million in federal funds.

The Water Resources Development Act Conference Report was passed in late September and includes the $16 million for the repair and rehabilitation of the Lower Girard Lake Dam to meet the state of Ohio’s dam safety standards.

Girard doesn’t have the required local $5.6 million, Melfi said. “Most cities our size don’t have that kind of money ... I am not willing to raise water rates to the point of drowning our citizens to pay for a dam.”

Melfi said he is not aware of any private efforts to raise the $5.6 million. The amount needed, he said, is likely too high for any one charitable effort to cover.

jgoodwin@vindy.com