By Ryan Nagelhout
The town voted Monday to create a five-year plan to deal with recent flooding issues along creeks between Route 93 North and Braley Road.
Town Supervisor Merton Wiepert called for the vote after a handful of Youngstown-Lockport Road area residents brought a signed petition to the meeting as well as photographs of recent flooding that occurred following heavy rains on Jan. 29. A number of residents have reported trees and other debris falling into the creeks causing water to rise and flood a number of homes.
“That rain we had really put the whammy to it,” Wiepert said.
Residents noted the creeks haven’t been cleaned in more than two decades.
Wiepert recommended the Drainage Committee investigate the matter and present a five-year drainage plan, a measure that was passed by the board. The committee, headed by Councilmembers Joe Fleckenstein and Jeff Baker as well as the highway superintendent, will present the board with cost estimates and recommend whether the state or a private contractor should conduct the cleaning based on the equipment necessary.
Wiepert said he hopes the committee will present its findings by the spring so work can begin over the summer months.
In other action, the board approved an agreement with Niagara Wind to apply for grant funding to install a wind tower at the town garage.
The board approved the $450 necessary to apply for the small wind tower, which would “supplement power at the town garage,” according to Councilmember Joe Fleckenstein, who presented the motion to the board. The grant application is due this Friday, and Fleckenstein said the funding has only been available for about three weeks.
If the town’s application is accepted, the miniature wind tower will be built at no additional cost to the town.
