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Ogdensburg City Council concerned with flooding river, manager warns trespassers of closed trail will be ticketed

Posted 4/15/14

By JIMMY LAWTON OGDENSBURG – With the Oswegatchie River expected to crest today, some city councilors are worried about property damage to homes along the waterfront. Councilor Jennifer Stevenson …

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Ogdensburg City Council concerned with flooding river, manager warns trespassers of closed trail will be ticketed

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – With the Oswegatchie River expected to crest today, some city councilors are worried about property damage to homes along the waterfront.

Councilor Jennifer Stevenson said Monday she met with county emergency services officials over the weekend to see what resources they had available. She said the county was willing to lend sandbags for anyone looking to shore up their homes before it’s too late, but that time may have passed as the flooding is expected to peak today.

“I want to be proactive instead of reactive,” Stevenson said. “Sometimes people don’t realize there is going to be a problem until there is already a problem.”

She said the city was fortunate that it did not receive the nearly two inches of rain originally expected yesterday.

City Manager John Pinkerton said the city did visit some homes to assess damage and provide help to residents experiencing water issues.

Interim Director of Public Works Gregg Harland said the city has some sump pumps and sand bags available for anyone people in need.

He said his department has had a few calls, but not many.

Pinkerton said the flooding was an extraordinary event and he was hopeful the risk to property would soon pass.

The trail was closed last week due to flooding and orange snow fence was posted to keep people out. However, he said teenagers and possibly some adults have been seen on the trail, which is underwater.

Pinkerton said the police have been asking people to “move on” but had not been issuing tickets. He said that would change today beginning with the posting of no trespass signs.

“Anyone caught there after that will be ticketed,” he said.

Councilor William Hosmer was concerned about damage to the Maple Trail. With many of the trails lights underwater, he questioned how much damage was expected.

Pinkerton said the estimate won’t be available until after the water recedes. He said the city has been reviewing its insurance policy and looking at possible funding from the state in federal government should the trail need major repairs.

Anyone in need of sump pumps or sandbags should call the department of public works at 393-2300.