Flooding spurs call for action in Poland

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Diane Matuz holds a petition against the poor sewer system in her Poland neighborhood. Residents are upset with the sewege system and extensive, recurrent, damage the water causes.Tuesday June 30, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

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Raymond and Diane Matuz point out the poor sewer system in their Poland neighborhood. Tuesday June 30, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

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Tom Bryan of Crum Construction out of Campbell works on the basement of Kim Frenzel and Jarda Juza's residence in Poland. Extensive and recurrent water damage leaves the residents with having to repair the costs out of pocket, since the insurance company did not cover it. Tuesday June 30, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

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Diane Matuz stands in her basement by the septic pump in Poland. Diane is petitioning the poor sewer system in her neighborhood. Tuesday June 30, 2009 Lisa-Ann Ishihara

Resident seeks help in finding solution

By Denise Dick

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

POLAND — Diane Matuz isn’t sure she’ll be successful in trying to reach a solution to the flooding problem that deluges her neighborhood during heavy rain, but she says she has to try.

When heavy rain pounded the Mahoning Valley about two weeks ago, some of it poured into the basement of the North Lima Road home Matuz and her husband, Raymond, have shared since 1967.

“I stood there with a mop for an hour, keeping it away from the carpeting,” Diane said.

They were some of the lucky ones. They have a sump pump and a check valve and saw no sewage in their home. Some neighbors weren’t as fortunate.

Two doors down, workers ripped out the drywall in a basement that was destroyed, along with furniture and other possessions, when sewage backed in.

“You don’t know what it’s like until you sit on your basement steps crying, watching the water,” Diane said.

When heavy rain begins, neighborhood residents move possessions in their basements, elevating them to try to save what they can.

Township Administrator Jim Scharville said flooding was reported on Four Seasons Trail, Diana Drive, Spitler Road, Lealand Avenue and in the Canterbury development as well as North Lima Road.

“The storm sewers did not hold,” he said.

The upper end of North Lima Road got it worse than other parts of the street, the administrator said.

Diane spoke to Mahoning County commissioners last week about the problem and plans to voice her concerns again at a township trustees meeting July 21.

She wants others to get involved, too, to try to find some solution.

“I just decided I’m going to do something,” she said.

Ultimately she’d like to see some kind of fund established or stimulus money used to address the situation.

A stormwater utility, whereby residents and businesses are charged an amount that’s used, to address stormwater problems has been discussed for years but never implemented.

Commissioners last week suggested residents attend a staff meeting with representatives of the county engineer’s and sanitary engineer’s offices and the health department to brainstorm solutions. That meeting hasn’t been set.

“They put in a storm-sewer pipe that goes 160 feet and then stops,” Raymond Matuz said.

The road also is higher in the middle than at the sides, directing water toward people’s yards, he said.

The couple learned of some of the deficiencies a couple of years ago when county officials placed cameras in the pipes.

“I want to make a change in Poland,” Diane said. “We never want to move.”

Some neighbors, she believes, may be afraid to speak up, but she wants to do something to try to make a difference.

She’s collected about 110 signatures on petitions from neighbors with similar concerns.

Petitions are available to sign at Ron Piersante Insurance, 84 S. Main Street, in the Town One Plaza in the village. The office is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Maybe I won’t be able to accomplish anything, but at least I will have tried,” Diane said.

denise_dick@vindy.com