YOUR INFORMATION NEWSLETTER FROM NORTHFIELD CENTER TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE PAUL G. BUESCHER
~ KEEPING NCT RESIDENTS INFORMED SINCE 2005 ~
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#487 TUESDAY JUNE 27, 2017
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A LETTER TO COUNTY ENGINEER AL BRUBAKER REGARDING FLOODING
The following letter was sent to Summit County Engineer, Al Brubaker’s Office and the Summit County Executive’s office and all County Council members:
Mr. Alan Brubaker, P.E., P.S.
Summit County Engineer
538 E. South Street
Akron, Ohio 44311
|6/23/17
Dear Mr. Brubaker, et all;
We are writing this letter in regard to a project that was completed by the Summit County Engineer’s office some twenty-five years ago. The project was titled “Summit County Department of Highways, Bureau of Roads & Bridges, Olde 8 – C.H. 16/Mitchell Ditch Storm Sewer Improvement, Northfield Center Township, County of Summit”. This was a Road and Bridges project created to presumably reduce the depth of the roadside ditches on Olde 8 Road in Northfield Center between Fairhaven Blvd. and West Highland Road (C.H. 111). The general plan of the project was to place 24″ concrete pipes down the west side of the road with several crossover pipes underneath Olde 8. The stormwater was channeled to the pipes by the addition of catch basins along the length of the piping on the west side of Olde 8.
For some reason, the project did not continue down Olde 8 to Brandywine Creek, but was diverted into an old county ditch, the Mitchell Ditch. The County secured “right of way” access along the entire length of the project. The adjacent Dorwick Ditch is an open ditch which drains roads and properties in the Beacon Hills Subdivision, the Brandywine Estates Subdivision and the Blue Bird Knolls Subdivision, among others.
Prior to this project, the Mitchell Ditch was presumably an open ditch which, by the County Engineer’s own advice from the web site, “has more capability than a piped system to reduce flooding resulting from heavy rainfall”. “A piped system does not have the capability to store excess water”, “accelerates water flow” and eliminates the “valuable filtering of rainwater” by vegetation.
The Dorwick Ditch remains an open ditch, but meets the “piped system” of the Mitchell Ditch near the Veterans of Foreign Wars property, 8584 Olde 8 Road. According to several Dorwick Drive residents, the area where the Dorwick Ditch meets the piped system of the Mitchell Ditch is routinely overwhelmed by storm water. As you know, the residents of the subdivisions drained by the Dorwick/Mitchell Ditch system have complained for years that the system routinely backs up and floods residents’ yards and basements.
This is not a project which was designed to drain township roads, residential yards or woods and wetland areas. This project was constructed from the outset to remove water from a county highway. Unfortunately, it appears that the inclusion and closing of the Mitchell Ditch has led to unforeseen consequences. At the time, using the Mitchell Ditch as a shortcut to Brandywine Creek may have seemed advantageous, but not taking the Olde 8 storm water all the way down to the bridge at Brandywine Creek and using the County’s own right of way appears to have been a compromise.
As this was conceived as a project to carry storm water from the road surface of a county highway, is it possible that a back-up of the system is also compromising the structure of the roadway of Olde 8? Can the Engineer’s office inspect the entirety of the system to confirm that there are no constrictions or deterioration which would reduce the flow of water? Can the Engineer’s office confirm that the project was constructed according to the plans? Many feel that the end product was inadequate from the beginning. Also, from descriptions of the components of the system, they are badly in need of maintenance and repair.
Although Northfield Center Township at the time was a partner in this project, we as a township did not engineer the manner in which it was accomplished. As we have been told by the Engineer’s office on many occasions and by many representatives, there needs to be a “revenue stream” in place to make any headway in county drainage issues. But, roads and bridge projects are necessary to keep the county’s transportation infrastructure in good repair. In this instance, the care and maintenance of the project described above is of course, the responsibility of Summit County. We submit to you that as this project was intended to maintain a county highway, this drainage system should be maintained and improved using county Road and Bridge project funds.
Please respond to this letter in a timely manner.
Respectfully yours,
Paul G. Buescher, Trustee Chair
John J. Romanik, Trustee Vice-Chair
Richard H. Reville Trustee
Northfield Center Township
WHAT IS A TOWNSHIP? “HISTORY OF OHIO TOWNSHIPS”
The pilgrim fathers brought the township form of government to America in 1620. This unit of local government eventually spread as far west as the Rocky Mountains. Today it is found in 22 states, known as the town or township.
In Ohio, the township predates our state government. The townships’ size and shape were determined by the Congressional Acts, which established the various land grants. As the Ohio territory became populated, it was only natural that the surveyed townships should become the basic unit of local government.
In 1804, the elected officials of a township consisted of three trustees, a clerk, two overseers of the poor and a sufficient number of highway supervisors, in addition to justices of the peace and constables. A township treasurer and assessor were later added. In the early years of statehood, Ohio township government cared for the poor, maintained the roads and preserved the peace.
Today, just as in 1804, the township is a political subdivision of the state. To keep pace with the demands of changing times, the functions, duties and obligations of the township have changed over the years. Demands for increased or different services have prompted the state legislature to grant Ohio’s 1,308 townships the authority to fulfill these changing needs.
Three trustees and a fiscal officer, each elected to a four-year term, administer our townships today. In addition, some townships now appoint a township administrator, whose duties are defined by the individual township. The township administrator typically helps plan, coordinate and implement township goals.
Elected officials fill their roles on a part-time basis; however, their intimate knowledge of their community, its needs and its citizens enables them to offer more personal service than any other unit of government.
Townships today are responsible for fire and police protection, parks and recreation, zoning, cemeteries, waste disposal, maintaining roads and more.
Source: Ohio Township Association
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Q >>> – Do we have any type of noise ordinance here in the Center for companies that back up to residential properties? I live on Vesta Ave. and this morning at 6AM in the little strip of companies (the old post office building) they began jack-hammering the parking lot. Needless to say it woke several households of us up. I am just wondering in case they work another day, I wonder if I am within my rights to go over and say something. Thank you, and I would like you to know that I enjoy reading your newsletters and comments that you provide!
A >>> – Our County noise ordinance AND our township zoning code applies to both residential and commercial businesses. Both require “quiet hours” from 11PM to 7AM seven days per week. The jack-hammering that you mentioned was illegal. You are, of course, free to remind them of the law OR you can call the Sheriff’s Department to take official action. I hope this helps. If the problem persists, especially after they’ve been warned, please let me know and I will take further action(s).
Q >>> – Thanks for the update on Brent and St. Barnabas. Is there any news on the acreage on Rte. 8 between Valley View and 82. Does the township have any plans to by it and leave it green space, perhaps thru a levy? With Amazon and other OL retailers taking more and more market share, I would hate to see all those beautiful trees cut down to put up some hideous, unnecessary, big box store, which would probably close in a few years anyway. Is anyone doing anything about this crisis? As always, thanks for the great work you do on keeping all of us informed.
A >>> – Although not official, I have heard that the proposed Meijer store is once again off the table. And I am not aware of any other plans for the “Spitzer Property.” Our Township has no plans to purchase this property. One thing that needs to be understood is the fact that the owner(s) of this property have a right to develop it as long as their plans conform to all zoning regulations and environmental laws!
Q >>> – Is the free dirt still available at service garage? If so what time is dirt available for pickup?
A >>> – Yes, free fill dirt is still available to all Northfield Center residents and businesses. Anyone interested must make arrangements for pickup during regular business hours by contacting our Service Department at nctroad@northfieldcenter.com or by calling 330-468-5979.
YOUR GENERAL COMMENTS
NOTE – If you would like your name to appear under your
Comments, please type the word “Signed” next to your name
We are so sorry for the loss of your friend and our trustee. We send our deepest sympathies to you and his family; the nordonia hills article was touching. May God give all of you the strength needed.
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I just read your letter on Brent. How sad. I know he was a close friend and trustee. I never knew him as well as I knew his Dad Marv, but he was well respected.
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Years ago, who authorized developers to come into the township and build on wetlands? It would be interesting to know how this happened and who is to blame for the damage. The county doesn’t seem to care and is hiding behind legal mumbo-jumbo to protect their little fiefdom. So here we sit with a he-said, she-said unresolved situation and it evidently must be “buyer beware” when you purchase a home. Meanwhile, SOMEBODY is allowing these people to build these homes. So who is it? Or was it?
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If you could give the crew that cut the empty lot across from our home on N Oakmont a BIG THANK YOU ! They did a fantastic job, it looks great!!!
Thanks
Sandy Tucciarelli signed
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Thank you,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Trustee – Chairman
330-467-9451
TrusteeBuescher@aol.com
www.northfieldcenter.com
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