Mentor Approves Grant Program for Flooded Properties

The City of Mentor agreed Wednesday night to financially support property owners impacted by the flood on July 20.

Unlike the county's application for Federal Emergency Management Agency dollars, Mentor's Private Property Sanitary Sewer Backup Reduction Grant Program would aid those who want to make property improvements to combat future, potential sewer backups.

The city adopted the grant program in a special, three-and-a-half-hour meeting in front of an almost-full City Council Chambers. City Manager Ken Filipiak made several statements in attempts to show that he related to the residents' concerns.

"When it rains, that nervous feeling comes over you," he said. "There's an edginess you experience, and it's tough to live with."

The city appropriated $1 million for the program. Qualifying property owners can receive a grant of up to 75 percent of the cost of their improvements. That amount cannot exceed $1,500.

The amount of property owners who have reported flood damage to the city has increased to nearly 600 since last week when that figure was closer to 500. Filipiak said about 500 reported water in their basements. Many were in Ward 3, particularly the areas north and south of Bellflower Road.

Eligible property owners must:

• Have experienced backup problems since Feb. 28, 2011, which was the last large-scale flood date prior July 20, Filipiak said. Verification will be determined by the city through documentation of such an event being reported to the city, the county utilities department or an insurance provider.

• Have less than three feet of vertical separation from the county's sanitary sewer system.

• Eligible work under the program includes eliminating basement connections; installing backflow/backwater check valves, floor drain plugs, float plugs or stand pipes; converting to overhead or high-wall plumbing; or other improvements approved by the city's engineer and chief building official that would prevent sanitary sewage from entering the home through fixtures or connections to the public system.