MILL CREEK PARK | Leadership wants to push up timeline for ending sewer discharges

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mill Creek MetroParks leadership is trying to push up the timeline for proposed fixes to the city sewers that discharge into the park system’s bodies of water.

An overflow of the city’s sewer system discharged 100,000 gallons of sewage into Mill Creek Park at the end of June, causing a massive fish kill in Lake Newport and leading the park system to close lakes Newport, Cohasset and Glacier on Friday, until further notice.

Mahoning County Board of Health tests determined there were elevated levels of E. coli bacteria in the water.

“This park is the crown jewel of this community. ... For us to have what’s happening now — it’s a crying shame,” said Lou Schiavoni, president of the board of park commissioners, at a packed board meeting Monday night.

Park leaders plan to seek federal funding, and today will meet with representatives from the office of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th.

City officials have said they will not move up the timetable for a proposed $48 million project to keep wastewater from flowing into Mill Creek. Design work for that project is scheduled to begin in 2020, with the project slated to be complete in 2033.

Mayor John A. McNally said last week that the proposed timeline is the best the city can do because of the project’s pricetag.

That isn’t good enough, however, Schiavoni said Tuesday.

“We’re going to look at all avenues to get this taken care of. ... Not in 20 years, but as soon as we can,” he said. “We truly believe that this is an emergency.”