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Emergency funding sought for flood cleanup
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - June 16, 2010)
Emergency funding sought for flood cleanup
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Chester and Russell townships will seek emergency state funding to help recover from the Memorial Day flooding.
Chester Trustee Judy Caputo said she and Russell Trustee Kristina Port took part in a telephone conference call last week with a representative of the Ohio Public Works Commission to discuss that funding.
Also participating in the discussions were Dale Wedge, director of the Geauga County Emergency Management Agency, Chester Road Superintendent Chuck Mascella and state Sen. Timothy Grendell, R-Chester.
Mrs. Caputo said Chester is hoping to secure the additional funding to help it deal with damage from the storm, including a raised culvert on Cedar Road and buckling roadway on Winchester Valley Drive.
Original estimates for Chester damages were $200,000, she said. The damage estimate has been revised for the township at about $60,000 after a closer inspection of the roads.
Mrs. Caputo said any emergency money would not cover the damage caused along berms that were washed out during the storm. She said officials must complete a 12-page application in hopes of qualifying for the money.
She said it is likely that the township road department's normal road duties will be pushed back by about four weeks as it concentrates strictly on repairing damage to the roads. That will likely mean, she said, that the township will face overtime, additional costs for materials and use of equipment just for the storm damage.
Normal duties, such as for crack sealing, will have to be bypassed until the storm damage repairs can be made.
"We're pushing it all backwards, which is frustrating to me," she said.
Mrs. Caputo said the township also is working to secure funding from a state mitigation fund that will be used to improve storm drainage in certain areas of the township, such as South Woodside Drive.
She said the township also is hoping that Mr. Grendell may be able to assist in changing the law about working on private property. One drainage basin is partially located on private property, which makes it illegal for the township to perform work there. If state law is changed, the township can go onto private property to make repairs that will benefit area residents.
Mrs. Caputo said residents affected by the storm have been busy cleaning out their homes. She said residents filled at least three Dumpsters left at Town Hall.
She said Waste Management has aided residents by agreeing to pick up carpeting at no charge to residents.
The township was deluged by an estimated 4 1/2 to 5 inches of rain in about an hour shortly after noon on Memorial Day.
Mrs. Caputo said most storm-sewer systems are able to handle what has been termed a "25-year storm." The one that struck Chester was considered a "100-year storm."
"Nothing was going to stop this," she said.
She said one lesson learned from this storm was that anyone living on a cement-slab base for their home should get flood insurance even if living atop a hill.
She said the township's recovery will not be a "quick fix," with the biggest challenge being finding the money to make repairs.
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