North Strabane Business Owners Blame Flash Flooding On New Development
NORTH STRABANE (KDKA) -- Some business owners are still cleaning up after flash flooding last Saturday.
Probably the hardest hit area here in North Strabane Township was a mini golf course, a business that spans generations. The flood damage is making the owner wonder if he'll ever get back on his feet.
John Goettler, the owner of Red Carpet Mini Golf, says the flooding carried away his past and his future. He had five feet of water on the course.
"We've been here 17 years. The golf course is 70-years-old," said Goettler. "I personally have been here 22 years, my uncle had it for 35 years."
Being so close to a creek that overflowed its banks, Goettler says he was unable to get flood insurance.
"Most of my rugs are down the road and they are wrapped around trees. My windmill totally dismantled, that's about a mile down the road," Goettler said.
Just up the road and sitting much higher from the creek are several other businesses. West Penn Billiards and Cardello Lighting sustained water and mud damage.
"It was pretty bad, mud all over the floor. I had to walk on it, like walking on ice. We had to clean up, so we could get open. It took a few hours," said Dan Joseph, of Cardello Lighting.
Plus, two days to shovel all the mud and move merchandise.
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John Morrelli owns three buildings in the plaza. He thinks he knows where the problem is coming from, Fox Ridge Development up on the hill.
Morrelli says there have been three floods since development began.
"The township is trying to do what they need to do, clear the basins, have storm water management in place, but it doesn't seem to be working," he says.
Goettler agrees.
"There is a housing development about a half mile up the road, and my sense is they started this about nine months ago, the creek has been coming up higher and higher and higher," he says.
Calls to the township manager went unanswered.
So while the other businesses up the road are up and running, the owner of the mini golf course says with the help of friends and his determination, he won't let this business die.
