CANFIELD — An increase in Canfield city’s stormwater fees is allowing for infrastructure improvements, which will begin soon.

City Manager Wade Calhoun said the first project on the list will be on Railroad Street, where a new catch basin will be tied into existing pipe so water doesn’t flow into the street.

For years the fees were $3 per month, but now the rate is $8 per month.

“The increase allows for funds to plan and program major capital infrastructure, but also tackle smaller jobs on an annual basis,” Calhoun said.

The increase took effect for bills generated after Aug. 1, 2019, Calhoun said.

Over time, due to aging infrastructure and increases in population, the stormwater system has not been able to accommodate large rain events, but now the increase in funds will help fix various water problems in the city, Calhoun said.

For example, a resident called about water ponding on the cul-de-sac of Camelot Court, and now that area is being studied.

“Our engineers are looking at that because there’s nowhere for that water to go except on the street in front of a resident’s home, which isn’t good for anybody,” Calhoun said.

Recently at Canfield Cemetery, operational and maintenance work was

performed when 36-inch pipe was replaced with new 36-inch pipe, he noted.

Residents can also anticipate work on Sawmill Run Road, Calhoun said.

Several houses on the crest of the hill don’t have catch basins or storm drains, leaving water to drain into residents’ yards.

The city plans on installing the catch basins, which will be city-owned and maintained — capturing a lot of water runoff from the street.

While the increase in stormwater fees will allow for projects through the summer, Calhoun said that until engineers complete their work, exact costs are unknown.

The Sawmill Run Road, Camelot Court and Railroad Street projects aren’t expected to cost more than $50,000, he said.

Planned over the next three to five years, Calhoun said, are a number of “major” stormwater projects.

That includes the Sawmill Creek Drainage Improvement project, which will be a multiphase project meant to address flooding for the portion of Sawmill Creek that runs from Canfield High School to Glenview Road.

Work will include upsizing stormwater pipes, removing and installing new catch basins and implementing detention areas along Sawmill Creek, Calhoun explained.

That project is estimated to cost between $1.5 million and $1.8 million.

Funding for that project was going to be offset by the Ohio Public Works Commission, but it’s been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and state mandates to cut spending, Calhoun said.

City officials have applied for hazard mitigation funds, and are waiting to hear back for the project, he added.

Calhoun explained that the city tries to capture all the water that runs off streets and roadways and direct it adequately into the stormwater system.

However, it isn’t always the case, due to geography.

“If your neighbor sits higher than you, the water will naturally run downhill” into another neighbor’s yard, he explained.

That is when there is a yard catch basin installed, diverting the water to the stormwater system.

afox@tribtoday.com