Five Ways Brecksville is Working to Improve Flooding Issues

Since the 2006 flood in Brecksville, officials at city hall have been busy working to improve the storm system. 

The evidence is shown in the number of calls the city has received during the past few storms.

Not one. 

Here are some of the measures the city has taken to improve the system during the past few years.

1. The city has upgraded storm lines and constructed detention ponds, said service director Ron Weidig. Creeks and headwalls are inspected prior to storms. Residents who happen to have water in the basement receive follow up inspections by the city’s building and service departments to check lines. “We will camera the lines and dye test as needed to assist residents,” said Weidig. “Over the last several storms we have not had water in any basements.”
2. The Cuyahoga County Sanitary Engineering department has a regular program to clean and inspect storm/sanitary main lines on city streets. The county workers report issues to the city for repair.
3. Brecksville provides chipping of branches after a storm and residents are permitted to bring larger branches to the curb to be chipped. That initiative also provides free mulch to residents.
4. The street sweeper is out almost each day, Weidig said, and the city’s “vactor” truck follows a route to clean storm catch basins from spring through fall.
5. Although the city still has a couple roads that still frequently flood — Riverview and Vaughan — the city recently received a nearly $2 million grant to raise the road at Riverview North of Vaughan and Vaughan Road and Riverview opposite the Cuyahoga Valley National Park maintenance facility to move a stream. The plans are being prepared by the city engineer for these projects with construction to start in 2015.

If residents have any issues they are encouraged to contact the service department or building department. The city is ready to inspect the sewer lines and determine to determine whether there’s an issue. And help.