Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Canfield resident David Moore, right, learns about the proposed stormwater project the city is considering for flood relief around the Sawmill Creek area. At left is MS Consultants representative Justin Kerns.

CANFIELD — Engineers and residents who live along Sawmill Creek met with city manager Wade Calhoun to discuss a proposed project aimed at easing flooding in the city’s northwest quadrant.

Calhoun said in mid- to late 2018, the city received multiple reports of flooding in the South Briarcliff Drive area.

“We looked at the drainage route and came up with ideas to alleviate the problem,” Calhoun said Wednesday. “The focus was on the pipes and whether they could handle heavy rains.”

He said on May 29, 2019, Canfield and Boardman received five inches of rain in three hours. The rains turned the Colonial Plaza into a reservoir for several hours. He said that gave engineers a good idea what and where they needed to look for a potential solution.

Following that storm the city found a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant that provided funds to buy properties, tear down the houses and install ponds.

Calhoun said he approached FEMA with the idea of putting in detention ditching and the grant would cover it.

The plan called for two phases being done at the same time. One phase would enlarge storm drains to 24 inches on South Briarcliff and Bradford drives and a portion of Glenview Road. At the same time, at least two out of three detention areas would be constructed.

The project would cost approximately $1.8 million and would be a 75-25 percent match. The city’s 25 percent would be covered by an Ohio EPA grant for 12.5 percent and the remaining 12.5 percent would come from Ohio Public Works Commission funds.

While it sounded like the project would be fully funded, some residents didn’t like where the drainage detention areas were located.

“I bought the wooded property to have a natural area and enjoy wildlife in the city,” Michelle Navarro, said. “It is the best of both worlds.”

She said the map shows her wooded lot being turned into a detention area for excess stormwater. It was something she wasn’t willing to give up.

Joseph Rossi and several other residents were concerned over the water and small children.

As for liability, Calhoun said the city would own the detention ditches and would be responsible for cleaning and maintaining them. He said that would require a gravel access road to the area, which most residents opposed.

“We have 12 kids under 7 on our street,” Rossi said. “How can you stop them from wandering in that area and getting hurt?”

City engineer Steve Preston said following a very heavy rain, the proposed detention area could see up to 5 feet of water. The water could stay for a day or more as it eased back into Sawmill Creek. The depth of that water concerned many parents.

As for purchasing the property for the detention area, MS Consultants’ Albano Mahilaj said an appraiser would be brought in to determine fair market value for the property being considered. That number would be used to open negotiations.

Most of the residents in attendance clapped when a suggestion was made to use the high school soccer field for the detention area. Calhoun said it could be used for an underground detention area like the library put in, but the school is the property owner and they may not want to lose the field.

Calhoun told residents he would keep them informed on any changes made to the plan.

“The FEMA grant is good for a little while,” he said. “We would have to be under construction by 2023 to keep the grant.”