BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Boardman Trustees are working on a host of initiatives to address surface water issues in the township this summer.
      Road Department Superintendent, Marilyn Kenner, said four homes on Wildwood Dr. and South Cadillac Dr. will be demolished and the properties will then be designed to move a water channel away from existing homes, and also to reduce the velocity of water flows during peak rainfalls.
      Homes set for demolition include 230 and 233 Wildwood Dr., and 230 and 241 South Cadillac Dr. Cost of the project is supported by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Kenner said.
      Meeting in May, Trustees Tom Costello, Brad Calhoun and Larry Moliterno approved a resolution to transfer property at 6706 Glendale Ave. to Boardman Township.
      “This property is known to flood during heavy storms and according to land revitalization protocols, this property will remain as green space,” Kenner said.
      She added, “As part of the stream restoration portion funded by FEMA grants, we will be removing a dam on Wildwood Drive to drain a pond and return it to a natural watercourse.”
      Other initiatives designed to improve drainage include in the Loch Heath/Heathers neighborhood, improvement to culverts on Turnberry Dr., Glenridge and Wildwood Dr., where erosion has undermined existing culverts.
      Boardman Township has received a $500,000 capital grant from the governor’s office, and those funds will be used to improve drainage near Market St. Elementary School.
      There are indications much of the school property will be donated by the Boardman Local School Board to the township to aid in addressing drainage issues associated with that property.
      “We are also applying for a grant his fall, that if approved, will also provide more funding for that project,” Kenner said.