SANDSUKY, Ohio — Sandusky residents and business owners are hoping for a permanent solution to flood water that has plagued parts of the city for several weeks.
Residents told News 5 the long term flooding has been promoted by record rainfall in recent weeks, along with accumulated ice and snow that melted earlier in the year.
The flood water has parts of several streets closed to traffic.
Pipe Creek Marina owner Brandon Bess told News 5 he believes that the Lake Erie water level is two feet above normal, causing a substantial part of his property to be swallowed up by flooding.
Bess said he appreciates the city trying to put together a plan to pump water out of low spots, but he believes a more permanent solution needs to be explored by trying to find the financing to construct a series of retaining walls.
“I’m not thrilled with the idea and what they’re planning on doing here,” Bess said.
“I think we have a better option here with the city helping out with the residents, more than pumping water from point “A” to point “B.”
"I don’t think it’s going to be too effective."
"Without retaining walls, we’re going to need winds coming out of the Southwest to the Northeast, we'll need the temperatures to rise and evaporate.”
Cove at Louie's club owner Michael Neff showed News 5 smartphone video outlining a flood water battle he's been fighting all Spring due to record setting Lake Erie water levels.
Neff agrees retaining walls are desperately needed.
‘It’s been horrible, it’s been horrible," Neff said.
"We’ve been looking at this for the past two months now.”
“The pumps are good, but the problem is you're pumping it back into the lake, this is the lake."
"I mean there is nowhere else for it to go and it’s already this high.”
News 5 spoke with the Sandusky city engineer and he said he's hoping to hire a dive team to plug a key outflow pipe, and get pumps up and running within the next few days, to help with flooded sections of the city.
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