Project looks to alleviate flooding

Backed-up basin targeted

Painesville Township officials have been overseeing a drainage ditch cleanout project intended to alleviate recurring flooding.

The township has already begun work with a nearby regional detention pond which Township Administrator Michael Manary described previously as “one of the biggest infrastructure projects we’ve ever taken on.”

“We’re close to the lake, and Route 84 is almost like a crest that separates us from the southern part of Lake County,” he added. “What we get is a lot of water headed toward Lake Erie that stops off in Painesville Township for a visit before

reaching the lake. Because of our topography, we’re a stop off for stormwater runoff. That’s why we have to go the extra mile.”

Township Trustee Chuck Hillier said that when engineering firm Enviroscience and Lake County Stormwater Department presented plans for the detention pond, a drainage ditch problem area was omitted.

Two drainage basins, one from Duffton Lane and another from Lanark Lane were blocked with debris and sediment. This led to a considerable back up of standing water.

Hillier said that the drains “were not functioning like it was designed to function.” He recalled his reaction on learning they were not included in the larger regional detention pond plans was “we have to address that. It’s part of the problem.”

The trustee explained that much of the build-up resulted from late 1980s- to early ‘90s-era construction done at a time when construction regulations were more lax. The township hired Hach Excavation to clean out the basin for an approximate price tag of $10,000.

This cost will be later reimbursed by the Lake County Stormwater Department, according to Hillier.

“It’s now going to be maintained,” he said. “The township is going to make sure that it stays maintained in the coming years. We’ll work with Lake County Stormwater Department to come up with a plan to make sure that it gets cleaned out on a regular basis, whatever we determine ‘regular’ to be.”

Hillier said that, while the township is committed to maintaining the basin’s general health, it is the county’s belief that the issue will be dramatically lessened because the initial cause of the obstructions were primarily related to construction projects no longer ongoing.

Hillier added on a social media post, “We believe this clean-up will greatly help back up flooding issues on both Duffton and Lanark Lanes in future storm events.”

SUBMITTED Members from Hach Excavating, including Painesville City Council President Paul Hach, left, work on removing debris from the basin areas.

SUBMITTED Basins located along the backyards of homes on Lanark Lane are shown.