Ditch Troubles on French Creek Road Irk Resident

A French Creek Road resident let Avon City Council know during its meeting Monday of troubles he has been having with a ditch along his property.

Steve Balmert had called Avon police last week  to complain after a construction company hired by the City of Avon to clean out the ditch left debris in his yard and damaged a window screen.

An officer noticed wood chunks scattered on the yard in the 38400 block of French Creek Road, and saw the damaged window screen.

Balmert praised street superintendent Bill Biro for his handling of the situation when he came out to Balmert's home Monday.

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be very upset," Balmert said.

Balmert, who ran for council in 2009, told council the flooding and problems with ditches like the one along his property are the result of them being neglected for more than 10 years. Add lots of new development with runoff draining into ditches, he said, and the city will likely see more flooding.

In other news from the meeting:

• Council voted to approve 4,000 above-ground heating oil tanks for the coming on Chester Road.
• said the city needs to address wheelchair and walker access for some of the softball and t-ball fields at . From the handicapped parking spots to the fields is largely a gravel path, he said. He said the cost to pave an asphalt path would be about $7,000. "For minimal money, we make people happy and make our park safer and more accessible," he said.
• This was the last meeting of council before a two-week summer break. The next meeting is a work session scheduled for 7:30 p.m. August 1 at .