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Manufacturers urge county help after repeated Chartiers Creek flooding; commissioners offer follow‑up meeting
Summary
Owners of Jefferson Avenue industrial properties told Washington County commissioners March 6 that repeated flooding of Chartiers Creek and local stormwater failures have forced businesses to leave, caused multimillion‑dollar losses and posed public safety risks; commissioners pledged to meet and pursue intergovernmental coordination
Business owners from an industrial complex near Chartiers Creek urged Washington County leaders on March 6 to address repeated flooding that they say has damaged property, driven companies out of the county and created public safety hazards.
John Swigler (transcript: "Swigler/Swicker"), who identified himself as an employee of RPM Industries on Jefferson Avenue, told the commissioners the complex has shrunk from seven companies to five and represents "over 300 high‑paying manufacturing jobs." He said Chartiers Creek flooded the industrial complex in April 2024 and that "there were multiple vehicle rescues from right on Jefferson Avenue," adding, "Somebody's gonna lose a life quickly if we don't do something about this." Oliver Rush, representing Raymond Incorporated, said the area has been flooded four times since February 2017 and described "multimillion dollar losses" for affected businesses.
Both speakers said they have contacted the Washington County Conservation District and local townships but were told the issue crosses multiple municipalities and therefore requires higher‑level coordination. Rush said flooding in their building can occur "before the water even goes over to the creek," indicating stormwater and local drainage are contributors as well as the creek's flow.
Commissioners responded that the problem is complex and requires intergovernmental action. A commissioner suggested meeting with the business representatives, the township and federal representatives to explore mitigation options and noted similar regional flood‑mitigation efforts require looking at upstream and downstream impacts. Staff member Daryl offered business cards for follow‑up scheduling and the chair indicated the three commissioners would sit down with the business owners to discuss next steps.
Why it matters: Repeated flooding threatens jobs, tax revenue and public safety in an industrial area of Washington County. The speakers asked the county to coordinate with municipal, county and federal partners to identify mitigation and funding options.
Requested follow‑up: Commissioners offered to meet with the speakers, engage the township and to reach out to federal representatives; no formal county action or funding commitment was recorded at the meeting.
