Spending to repair dike system urged at Point Place forum

Point Place residents were told Monday night that they have the choice of approving reinforcement of the 40-year-old dike system that protects the peninsula from flooding or doing nothing.

Leaving the dikes alone would trigger a requirement for home-owners to buy flood insurance, city officials told about 150 Point Place residents inside Friendship Park Senior Center Monday night. The insurance premiums would cost at least $700 a year, said Councilman Lindsay Webb, who represents Point Place said.

The cost of reinforcing the dikes is about $1.2 million. Toledo would pay 85 percent and the 1,600 Point Place property owners would pay the balance.

The homeowners' cost would be about $100 a year for 10 years, said Dale Rupert, senior professional engineer with the city division of streets, bridges, and harbor and project engineer.

"It's a pretty hefty price tag, but a lot less than what we thought it would be," Mr. Rupert said.

Mayor Mike Bell said money has been set aside in the capital improvements budget, and additional funds would be sought to reduce the cost for residents.

City Council's approval is required to spend the money, but the mayor said the decision rests with Point Place residents.

"What we have got to figure out is what do you want us to do," he said.

For the 200 waterfront property owners, there would be another, hidden cost involving removal of decks, piers, and other improvements made to the ramparts to allow for construction work.

The dike system was built under the direction of the Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1970s at a cost of more than $14 million to alleviate floods in the neighborhood.

Property tax assessments paid some of that.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency told the city the flood control system must be brought up to its new standards formulated in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The improvements would mean the area would not be designated a flood hazard, Michael Hanke of FEMA's regional office in Chicago told the residents.

He said that if the system is not reinforced, FEMA would rule out federal assistance in the event of a devastating flood in Point Place. His observation drew catcalls from audience members, who said FEMA gave little assistance to the victims of last month's tornadoes in Wood County.

Marcia Mayor, a lifelong Point Place resident who lives four houses from the water, questioned the timing of the push to improve the dikes, saying she's never experienced flooding. "I think it's definitely unnecessary," she said before the meeting. "Why all of a sudden now?"

Contact: Jim Sielicki at:

jsielicki@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.