Thursday, April 8, 2010

LOUISVILLE FLOODING PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO A BROADER EFFORT TO SOLVE AN EASTERN STARK COUNTY FLOOODING PROBLEM?


Stark County Commissioner Todd Bosley called a meeting (April 6, 2010) of area officials, but which also included two mitigation specialists from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, to brainstorm solutions to aid two Stark County women who suffered flood loses to their businesses located in Louisville.

It remains to be seen whether or not a solution will be forthcoming for the two women and, if there is one, it seems that it could be a long time before it materializes.

Towards the end of the meeting, Louisville officials (Mayor Pat Fallot,City Manager Tom Ault and Councilwoman Cheryle Casar (a relative of recently retired Canton City Councilman Don Casar) revealed that Louisville is very much interested combining with Nimishillen Township (Trustee Allen Gress was present) and county officials and others (presumably state and federal officials) to find a long term solution to chronic flooding in eastern Stark County.

A first step would be to do a study a la the Zimber Ditch study done a number of years ago.

Louisville citizen Kevin Ellis has been working on a solution to the Nimishillen flooding problem for at least ten years.  It appears he is making headway on his quest.

The SCPR attended the meeting and has prepared a video which shows the Louisville officials making their plea and also a statement by an employee (Gary Connor) of the Stark County engineer's office supporting the Louisville entreaty.

The SCPR supports this initiative on intergovernmental cooperation.  Stark County commissioners are supportive.  However, a drive towards a flooding problem solution is tempered by a money shortage.

If a study is to be done and a solution recommended by the study is to be implemented it will take intergovernmental officials working creatively together to find the necessary funding.

Here is the video of relevant portions of Tuesday's meeting.

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