The flood waters in Carnegie may have receded, but residents are still cleaning up, and other troubles continue from the Sept. 17 record rainfall.

		Related story Water, trash problems continue to trouble Carnegie flood zone residents

Among the issues brought to Carnegie council Oct. 5 were concerns about disappearing or full trash bins, and continued water problems on some low-lying streets.

Debbie Mulholland of Second Avenue asked if the borough would continue to supply trash bins. A number of elderly residents, who rely on the assistance of their children to help them complete clean-up, are still tearing out walls, Mulholland said.

"It's going to be a health issue next," she said.

Mayor Jim Pascoe said trash bins are still available, but that some contractors are filling them up with their own refuse. Contractors should provide their own trash bins, he said.

Public Works foreman Keith Hatcher said the borough can't continue to supply trash bins for an indefinite time.

But Mulholland suggested residents were lulled into a false sense of security after the flood control project was built. She said the Sept. 17 flood "was the worst flood we've ever had in this area."

"Nothing [the Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the flood control project] could have done would have prevented it," responded Councilman Tim Volk.

There was 10 more feet of flood water in September than in the flood in the early 1960s, he said.

Volk said the Army Corps of Engineers would be dredging the creek to remove the sediment and debris left by the rushing waters.

Mona Sellman, who lives on Lexington Court, begged officials for help in her area, where the creek sides have been eroding for years.

"This flood has totally wiped us out. We need to do something and we need to do it now," she said, suggesting that the creek be dredged and retaining walls erected.

Borough Manager Lori Ritter said some of the problems in that area are coming from development in Robinson.

A Carnegie-Collier-Robinson task force is in the process of being set up with direction from Allegheny County. In the meantime, she urged residents to protect their homes and valuables.

Jeff Stephan, a real estate agent from California Avenue, which also saw some flooding, had another message for residents.

"I've had a lot of calls from people who are fed up. Don't give your property away to bottom-feeders who are coming into the community.

"We are still the best-kept secret around."

"The very best of America starts right here in Carnegie, Pa," added Michael Sarsfield.

The Carnegie Area Ministerium and Georgiana Dell, of the International Fraternal Order of Chaplains, will supervise the distribution of local flood recovery donations, Carnegie council decided last week.

"We don't have the expertise to give this out fairly," said Councilman Robert Chidlow in making the motion to name the ministerium as distributor, adding that decisions about who gets what should not be made by politicians.

The borough has received about $40,000 in donations. Council added another $25,000 with the passage of Chidlow's motion to transfer that amount from a special fund that was earmarked for improvements to Carnegie Park. The special fund is not part of the general budget.

Council President Dorothy Kelly pointed out that Carnegie had incurred many expenses in dealing with the flood recovery. About $170,000 has been spent on supplying trash bins for cleanup, and the work is not finished, she said.

During the discussion, a man called out from the audience, "Give that money to the people. We need it."

The money will be used to help people install furnaces and whatever else is needed to make their homes livable.

The vote to donate the $25,000 was 5-1, with Kelly opposed, stating her concern about the borough's fiscal situation.

Her worries were confirmed when Carnegie Manager Lori Ritter gave her flood report. Ritter said the flooding from Hurricane Ivan damaged more than 300 structures and about 280 businesses in the borough. As of Sept. 30, 705 tons of debris had been carted to a nearby landfill.

More than $200,000 has been spent for cleanup, including, but not limited to, trash removal, emergency sewer work and repairs to traffic signals. The police department sustained $100,000 in losses from four damaged vehicles and ruined equipment.

The borough's Public Works Department lost at least $100,000 in equipment because everything in the garages, with the exception of its work trucks, was destroyed, Ritter said.

The Carnegie Volunteer Fire and Rescue Bureau suffered major damage to its new building, as well as 90 percent of its equipment. Losses could reach $1 million if a ladder truck and a pumper truck cannot be repaired.

Donations can still be made to the Carnegie Disaster Flood Relief Fund, 1 Veterans Way, Carnegie, 15106.