Flooding projects dry up

By Denise Dick

Speedy time requirements for stimulus funds washed out plans for the improvements.

BOARDMAN — Six stormwater projects the township hoped to complete with federal stimulus money will remain shelved.

Administrator Jason Loree said that the time frame required to receive the federal funding wasn’t long enough to ensure the projects could secure permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.

“It’s too long of a process,” Loree said of the corps’ permit steps.

Still slated for the federal dollars through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency are: Boardman Lake detention basin phases one and two, Aylesboro storm sewer replacement phase two, Boardman Park stormwater detention basin, Midwood Drive detention basin and storm sewer construction, Tara Drive/Alverne Drive stormwater detention basin and Westview Drive detention basin and storm sewer.

Township officials caution though, that as the review process continues, others may also be removed because of time limitations or permitting requirements.

The projects total about $3 million with half coming from the federal funds and the remainder through a 20-year Water Pollution Control Loan.

Loree said that the loan will be repaid through funds that the township has been setting aside for flood control projects, about $100,000 per year.

“That money is already built into the appropriation,” the administrator said.

The projects that won’t get the federal funding are Lynn Street stormwater management, East and West Parkside Drive stormwater management, Jaronte stormwater detention basin, Squirrel Hill detention basin, Washington Boulevard-Market Street detention basis and South Shore Drive stormwater management.

Two other projects to address stormwater concerns have already been done, said Larry Wilson, township road superintendent.

The Arlene Avenue storm sewer project to eliminate infiltration/inflow to sanitary sewers was completed using a Ohio Public Works Commission grant.

The Mathews Road stormwater detention project to eliminate sanitary sewer infiltration/inflow was a joint effort with Mahoning County and involved Clean Ohio funding. That project also was finished.

denise_dick@vindy.com