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Politics & Government

City Continues Search for Solutions to Flooding

North Canton's mayor tells council and visitors the city is working weekly on finding solutions to its flooding problems

While there were no residents to speak out about the flooding issues at this week’s regular North Canton City Council meeting on Monday evening, there was continued discussion among council members about possible solutions.

More than 100 people were affected by flooding from Zimber Ditch and many others experienced sewer backups due to more than 5 inches of rain inundating the city’s sewer system. Mayor David Held wanted to reiterate the city’s commitment to the residents and to the problem.

“We take resident complaints very seriously,” Held said. “Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes. It’s going to take time and financial commitment. It is a challenging situation. We will continue to pursue the FEMA buyout. Those applications could take two or three years or longer.”

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Council and the mayor also sent a letter directly to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the Zimber Ditch and water retention systems that were built upstream. A letter was also sent to Congressman Jim Renacci for possible support.

Held wanted to reassure residents they are “taking steps weekly to address the flooding problems.” There are also plans to contact the Muskingum Watershed Department for help. The city will not have to pay for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers service or for services provided through the Watershed Department. In addition, the city is continuing to replace the sanitary sewer lines as they have been year after year.

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Council member Marcia Kiesling asked city Engineer Jim Benekos what they could do as a city to address the expansion at the Akron-Canton Airport. According to Kiesling, part of the flooding problem may be a result of the new runway and the expansion of parking at the airport.

Benekos responded the airport has put in 25-year storm basins for rainwater runoff. “I have met with them and we will be meeting again with them and with the city of Green to see if they can possibly expand their retention basins or add more if there are areas available for basins,” Benekos said. He added that cost is also an issue for expanding or adding more retention systems.

Kiesling also questioned the new drainage work being done on The Strip. Council president, Jon Snyder, reported that the developer who owns The Strip is putting in a $2 million drainage project and there will eventually be two new restaurants put in on top of the expanded drainage.

Kiesling also asked about the government buyout of the Pathways building on Wise Avenue. Snyder stated that Stark Parks will be taking over that building and may consider using the area for water retention.

In other business: Council heard a request to better manage the traffic lights in the center of town in a way that would allow more time for pedestrians to cross either East Maple or Main Street.

The city engineer said the lights are timed like any other intersection in most cities. Councilman Pat DeOrio agreed that North Canton has two highly dangerous intersections for pedestrian crossings at Main Street and Maple and at Applegrove and Main Street. Council will consider turning all lights red in all directions for a period of time to allow pedestrians to cross either street in the designated crosswalks before traffic resumes. They will also consider adding more pedestrian crossing signs in the area.

James Benekos  told members there will be a traffic light installed at the intersection of Marquardt and East Maple to better handle detoured traffic as a result of the closing of Applegrove.

The foundation will be poured for the traffic light on Aug. 30, the pole and the lights will go up the Tuesday after Labor Day. The lights need to be on flash for a standard period of time before putting the lights in full operation the week of Sept. 12. Until the lights are in operation, there will be county patrol officers (either from the sheriff’s office or from the Highway Patrol) in place to direct traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours.

Jeff Davies mentioned that there will be a meeting held at the North Canton Civic Center at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 to discuss safety issues surrounding the recent home invasion in his ward that, according to Davies, was apparently a targeted event.

The police department and a spokesperson from Stark County’s prosecutor’s office will be there to talk about crime watch and to talk with residents. “There is only so much the police department can do. We need to know how to protect ourselves and our property,” Davies said.

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