Disputes surface over Boardman ponds

By ASHLEY LUTHERN

BOARDMAN — It’s a battle over retention and detention ponds for residential properties in the township.

Anthony DePinto lives in South Point Run development off McClurg Road. He says the overgrown lot next to his house has a detention pond — a basin that fills during heavy rain — and needs to be better maintained because it poses a safety hazard.

“Our main complaint is that it’s so steep that it could be a safety threat to the children in our neighborhood,” DePinto said.

The township or developers need to do something about the situation, he said.

“It looks atrocious and I don’t even think that it’s functional. The backs of both ponds are eroding,” DePinto said.

But local officials say that the township isn’t responsible for maintaining the pond.

“It’s on private property and we can’t afford to maintain everyone’s retention pond,” said Darren Crivelli, Boardman zoning inspector.

There are two kinds of drainage systems that are causing headaches for township officials. The first is an extended detention basin, which is what DePinto’s development has. This type collects water during storms and once filled, it releases that water to storm sewers and drainage systems.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.