Floods close Tiffin Avenue, city golf course

Friday, 23 June 2006

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Sandusky was mostly spared from the brunt of the storm damage and flooding Wednesday and Thursday.

Pockets of the city had flooding and basement backups, as well as down branches, standing water and flooded parking lots, in particular on the west side.

And flooding nearly delayed the rape trial of Neil Fannin in Erie County Common Pleas Court. A juror in the case had to be taken from her flooded home by boat courtesy of Perkins Township firefighters. An Erie County Sheriff's office deputy picked up the woman at 6104 Old Railroad Road around 11:30 a.m. and drove her to the downtown court.

The largest, and most talked about, effect of the weather was Mills Creek, which overflowed and forced the city to close Tiffin Avenue between Broadway and Venice Road.

Until the water recedes, Tiffin Avenue at the underpass will remain closed. As of Thursday night, it was still closed.

Mills Creek Golf Course will also remain shut down. The city was forced to close Thursday because a huge portion of the city-owned golf course was under rapidly flowing water.

Normally, Mills Creek, which runs through the golf course, is no higher than 2 feet, but soared an additional 5-6 feet above normal because of the rain battering the area, according to Sandusky Horticultural Services Superintendent Mike Pisarsky.

"This is the worst rain we have had since I have been superintendent for 11 years," Pisarsky said.

The city's new bridges at the golf course were under water. Pisarsky said turf damage and erosion at the course are possible.

"All the rain that came down south of here is coming this way," Pisarsky said. "Mills Creek is overwhelming into the Tiffin Avenue underpass."

Some Cedar Point-bound guests use Tiffin Avenue to get to the park, which continued to entertain Thursday.

Traffic was forced down Perkins Avenue, which crawled with vehicles normally taking Tiffin -- a main city artery.

Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards said the park was not flooded, although everything was damp. Rides were open. Even the parking lot was good, he said.

Stacy Frole, director of investor relations, said any time it rains, attendance could be affected.

"A lot of times we get rain and then it ends in 20 minutes," she said.

When it started to pour Wednesday about 8 p.m., many guests were either getting ready to leave anyway, or just decided to wrap up their day earlier.

"I don't think it is a mad dash for the entrance," Frole said.

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