Residents Look to City for Answers on Continuing Flooding Problems (With Video)

Residents brought many concerns with them to the public hearing about flooding Monday evening, but one common thread ran throughout their comments.

They were concerned that a problem that they said got swept under the rug years ago would once again get pushed aside, leaving them again to fend for themselves — or leaving their kids to face the same problems with flooding that they’ve faced.

The audience of more than 100 inside North Canton City Hall interrupted one resident with applause after his comment regarding the city's reaction to flooding: “There seems like there’s no sense of urgency.”

Then he asked how many council people and administration members were affected. The answer was one of 12.

“I think I’ve got my urgency problem,” he said.

The recent high waters left dozens of families to clean out their houses, some ripping up and pitching sewage-soaked carpet and soggy and ruined belongings, which often included invaluable family photos and mementos. And it left them fighting off mold or cracks in their homes’ foundations.

Many said they feel as if they’re stuck in their homes because they’re unsellable. And if they could sell their homes, they would be left with a guilty conscience about the problems the next family will face. Others talked about the rising cost of flood insurance, which, in one resident’s case, jumped from $600 his first year in his home to the current $1,400.

Zimber Ditch

The city had responded to affected areas with portable toilets, Dumpsters and assistance in picking up debris for disposal during the days following the July 19 rainstorm that substantially flooded 70 homes throughout the city. The city was hit with about five inches of rain within two to three hours.

Most flooding was seen around Price Park and the Zimber Ditch, which has overflowed in the past and flooded homes.

Resident Chuck Osborne said the Zimber Ditch has been an issue for at least 14 years, and during his time on council in 2003 he urged other council members to take immediate steps in fixing it.

City Administrator Michael Grimes, who gave a presentation about the flooding before opening the floor for residents’ comments, addressed the topic.

“With the flood zone and Zimber Ditch, it’s going to take money and multi-jurisdictional mitigation to solve that problem,” he said.

Some residents wanted to see the ditch dredged, but Grimes said that would serve no purpose.

What the City’s Done

Grimes said it did take a while to assist some residents because they had to wait for the water to recede, or else it would creep back into their homes.

Stark County Red Cross responded with shelter and assistance, and the city declared North Canton a disaster area through the Stark County EMA and applied for assistance through the Ohio EMA. The city was turned down as a disaster area in Stark County, and the Ohio EMA also turned down its application for assistance.

Grimes said the city’s next steps are to check the sewers for integrity and determine if residents have valid claims against the city. The city also will meet with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for advice about the Zimber Ditch area. The group has ultimate authority on what can be done about the ditch.

spoke last, telling residents, “If there was something that I could do right now, or that council could do, to mitigate this, we would do it.”

He said he's spoken with the county and city engineer, the Army Corps of Engineers and other consultants about the problem.

His course of action right now is to pursue a federal buyout program for those who live in the flood plain.

"Historically, we've been told this is not a quick process. Because often times, if a person purchased a home at $120,000, the reimbursement or the buyout rate may not be $120,000. That's the problem."

Residents had asked near the end of the meeting about another gathering to see how much progress the city had made. No plans were made to meet again, although city officials said they will inform residents when another meeting is set.