Brookfield Road Superintendent Jaime Fredenburg, left, and D.J. Mild position the top of a catch basin being lowered by backhoe operator Matt O’Dell during a drainage project at Hazelton and Davis Streets.
Brookfield Road Department has started work to try to alleviate flooding in the area of Davis Street in Masury, but Road Superintendent Jaime Fredenburg said he wants to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to finish the job.
The road crew installed drainage pipe from halfway down Hazelton Street to a new catch basin they put in at Davis the week of July 15.
The new pipe bypasses an apparently crushed pipe in a yard along Davis, Fredenburg said. He added that he expects to replace some driveway pipe, and replace a crushed pipe with larger pipe on Fern Street.
Many of pipes in the area appear to be undersized and cannot handle the water they get during heavy rains without backing up, Fredenburg said.
There have been measures undertaken to alleviate flooding in the area in the past.
Some years ago, the township used state bond issue money – known as the Issue 1 program – to increase the size of pipe on part of Fern Street, where it collects the water that runs down Davis and takes it toward Addison Road. Those pipes “can take more water,” Fredenburg said.
Trumbull County Planning Commission undertook a CDBG project to improve storm water flow on Ulp Street, which runs parallel to Davis and connects to Hazelton, Ira Street and Fern, Fredenburg said.
However, flooding has appeared to worsen in the last several years, and a basement flooded during a heavy rainstorm in June.
Fredenburg said he decided to do some work now, because he didn’t believe he could risk waiting for the CDBG application process to play out.
The federal government provides CDBG money to the states to dole out, but there are strict application guidelines that include the seeking of public input, and the program is competitive.
The area qualifies for CDBG funds because Census data shows residents meet low- and moderate-income guidelines, said Trustee Ron Haun.
