Canfield, Boardman, Austintown explore joint water district

By Elise Franco

A storm-water district could lessen flooding in older neighborhoods, an Austintown trustee said.

For Austintown, Boardman and Canfield, three’s not a crowd.

The bordering townships have been collaborating to create a water and storm- water district for nearly two years, and resolutions were passed by each township’s trustees this week to begin the first phases.

Together, the townships figure they have a better chance at getting grant dollars for flood control and water projects.

Although signing a petition to establish the district has begun, Boardman Administrator Jason Loree said it’s the first step in “a long process to form the district.”

After the petition is filed, Austintown Administrator Mike Dockry said the townships will have a collective public meeting to discuss the project. The next step is a hearing in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

“That’s when we’ll present evidence as to the necessity for both the water and storm- water part of the district,” Dockry said. “If the judge approves, then the district is, in fact, created.”

Such districts can be formed to provide water services, central sanitary sewer services and to maintain storm water. The law firm Albers and Albers represents the three townships.

Loree said because the district is in its preliminary stages, no establishment cost has been determined. On average, the cost can vary between $10,000 and $50,000, depending on the size of the district, according to the law firm.

Austintown Trustee Lisa Oles said a major goal for Austintown in forming the district is to alleviate flooding in the township.

Oles said older neighborhoods, such as North Wickliffe and College Park, have had flooding problems.

“Austintown has had some flooding due to antiquated water systems,” she said “Currently, we have many ongoing projects to correct that flooding, but with the district, we have the opportunity for all three communities that have the same types of issues.”

Oles said retention ponds to alleviate flooding have been built in some neighborhoods but more are needed. Having three townships in the district will make it easier to secure grant money to build ponds.

“As far as this project, there are grants available out there,” she said. ‘The larger the amount of people it benefits, the better the chance of securing the grant.”

The second area the district will deal with is providing water to parts of each township, Oles said.

“It would benefit people in the areas who currently don’t have sewer and don’t have water, as far as public utilities go,” she said.

Canfield Trustee Bill Reese has previously said the majority of all three townships are served by either Aqua Ohio or Youngstown.

“There are parts of Canfield, however, not served by either,” he said.

efranco@vindy.com