3rd leg of Blanchard River benching unlikely

FINDLAY — Concerns that Findlay's Sixth Ward could become the next "pinch point" in the Blanchard River received a measured response from city officials on Tuesday. Findlay-Hancock County could have about $5 million left in grant funds once the books are closed on current flood mitigation projects, but residents of the city's 6th Ward want it earmarked for more benching to protect their neighborhoods. Sixth Ward resident James Routson is circulating a petition urging officials to extend river benching farther downstream past the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge. He addressed council during its regular session on Tuesday. Phase 1 benching, completed in 2018-19, widened roughly 3,500 feet of the north bank between the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge and Broad Avenue. The work increased the river's capacity and is expected to lower the Blanchard River by 0.8 feet in the downtown during a 100-year storm. Phase 2 benching will widen the north bank of the Blanchard River between Cory Street and the CSX Railroad, improving flow conveyance through downtown. The project is expected to reduce flood levels by 0.2 feet during a 100-year storm. The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, Defiance, awarded the contract for the second leg of benching on July 14. Helms & Sons Excavating, Findlay, won the $3.7 million contract. Construction had been estimated at $6 million, the same price as Phase 1. Money from a $24 million Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Mitigation Assistance grant will pay for the work. Routson is arguing for a third leg to extend the river benching to Western Avenue. The petition argues that failing to bench the river downstream of the railroad bridge will create another bottleneck in the Blanchard River, and that additional benching is needed to protect neighborhoods, improve green space on the north bank and safeguard municipal infrastructure. He has said that 80% of Maple Grove Cemetery remains at risk of flooding, and the city's sewage treatment plant is also vulnerable. Streets left at risk include River, Findlay, Washington, Marshall, Shinkle, Howard and the surrounding locations. Routson argues that the 6th Ward was excluded because its lower property valuations would have created a drag on the project's cost-benefit ratio, which was reported to FEMA at 1:1.44. FEMA generally requires a minimum 1:1 ratio for grant funding. The projects carry an estimated cost of $104 million against roughly $150 million in expected benefit. On Tuesday, both councilmen Dan DeArment, R-4, and Rodney Phillips, R-6, expressed concerns about attempting to modify the project at the 11th hour, when construction is ready to begin. "All these things were decided 15 years ago, and coming in when we're under construction is just too little too late," he said, adding that while additional work could be considered in the future, the current project is already locked in and moving to bid after two decades of study. "We're not going to change what we're doing," DeArment said. However, Routson, a retiree with a professional background that includes FEMA flood certification, construction layout training, topographical surveying and environmental laboratory work, said it's not too late. "I know for a fact that it isn't," he said. "I will be taking this to the people, and I think 400 to 500 votes would change any election that happens within the city." "So, it's your role to protect us, all of us. Ok? Everybody, including the people left behind the river bridge. We've been left out of the equation. We're at the same risk. ... We're paying the same amount of FEMA flood insurance as anybody else," Routson said. He said the scope of the project can and should be expanded. Mayor Christina Muryn said local officials have been talking with Routson for the past year. "Phase 1 benching specifically addresses the concerns that he is primarily bringing up," she said. Muryn said the work was phased to ensure that once the flood projects are complete, the river would be able to carry the additional flow without creating new problems. She said Sixth Ward is already seeing benefits from the flood mitigation work, and that a letter of map revision from FEMA, expected by the end of the year, will show it. A letter of map revision is a formal FEMA determination that updates part of a community's flood insurance rate map. It reflects new engineering, new construction, or new hydrologic/hydraulic modeling that changes the flood risk in a specific area. She also said officials don't expect to have much leftover cash from the flood mitigation grants. Right now, about $8.2 million in grant money is uncommitted. Additional benching will be required beneath the new Norfolk Southern railroad bridge once that structure is complete. The project is estimated to cost about $2 million for construction and engineering. Basin and benching contracts will also likely generate change orders that could increase costs beyond the original bid amounts. "And so, until we change orders on all the different items, we really can't change anything," she said. At the July 21 meeting of council, Muryn also said the grant structure does not allow it, calling the process "much more complex" and noting the city cannot repurpose the surplus or reimburse itself for prior costs.