In slow retreat

VILLAGE OF GRAND RAPIDS - The Maumee River is now retreating in Grand Rapids, but only after swamping a few businesses and one home.

"It looks like it went down a little bit overnight," Grand Rapids Village Administrator Chad Hoffman said after looking over the downtown area around 6 Thursday morning.

The rising water took its toll on one home next to the town hall and two Front Street restaurants, Pisanello’s Pizza and Couzins restaurant, which are always the first to be flooded when the river reaches over its banks.

"They're in the low part of the main street," Hoffman said.

At least four other businesses, including an antique shop and old-fashioned country store, had some water damage, according to Grand Rapids Fire Chief Lon Tonjes.

"They could see the water sneak up through there," Tonjes said of the old wooden slats in the country store.

Some shops had a puddle here and a puddle there.

"A lot of these places aren't really level," the fire chief said of the old downtown buildings.

A portion of the main street of town was also overrun with water, closing it to traffic at Front and Mill streets.

Village officials, who are accustomed to high water from the Maumee River, don't bother to sandbag since the river stretches across the entire back side of the town. It would be a futile effort, Hoffman said.

"It doesn't do a bit of good here."

Now the town will wait as the waters continue to recede.

"It's going to take a little while," Tonjes said, estimating the river crested at 19.5 feet, just over the level it hit last spring.

When the water is gone, the town's firefighters will hose down the street to get rid of the silt left in the river's wake. They will also wash out any businesses and pump out basements if requested, Tonjes said.

Then it's up to the business owners to wash up with bleach and water. Before opening for customers, the restaurants must be re-inspected by the Wood County Health Department.

In recent years, the flooding has become more frequent, the village administrator said. It was a year ago when the river last flooded the downtown area.

"it's a big pain - every year now," he said.

But residents shouldn't blame the weather, according to Hoffman.

"We the people have caused this," he said, noting how so many rivers and streams have been channelized to drain farm fields.

"It can't handle it," Hoffman said of the Maumee River becoming the draining ground for fast flowing streams. "Mother Nature can't handle all of this."

( The BG Sentinel-Tribune is a FOXToledo.com media affiliate)