File Photo/Shelley Hanson Monarch Stadium is shown flooded last week. Marshall County Schools is evaluating damage to the stadium’s track, elevator and turf this week following flooding from a nearby creek.

MOUNDSVILLE – Board of education members learned this week that Marshall County Schools did not incur much damage during last week’s Ohio River and creek flooding event.

During this week’s board meeting, Facilities Director Mike Price said the football stadium, which sits beside a creek, did take on a few feet of water. An elevator on site did receive some damage and will have to be fixed. He estimated the cost at $20,000.

“Everyone saw the field. It broke my heart to watch that happen,” he said of the flooding. “But we really did fare pretty well. I have to give all of our guys credit. Everybody busted their butt getting things prepared.”

He noted debris was kept off the field thanks to silt fencing and sandbags placed around the perimeter, an idea given by Superintendent Shelby Haines and Assistant Superintendent Karen Klamut, he noted.

Price said officials with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection are expected to give guidance on how to sanitize flooded areas of the field without contaminating the nearby stream.

“We kept a lot of debris off the field by putting the silt fence so all we got was dirty water. The field is dirty and the track is full. The track has come loose in a couple areas,” he said.

He noted the field turf would be evaluated this week also.

“The field fared very well. It did start to come up in the center … but once the water receded it’s perfect. I think we will have to do some more infill to it,” he said.

Price said the elevator filled with water and mud at the stadium.

“That could be a little costly to fix it. The piston that runs it, that apparatus that runs the piston is all rusted and filled with mud,” Price said. “We’re not sure if it’s going to work. We might have to replace that.”

Price noted when the project was completed years ago FEMA representatives warned against getting flood insurance for buildings at the field because it was so costly at that time.

“I guess we’ll find out now if it’s worth it,” he said.

Finance Director Nan Hartley noted the district at that time weighed purchasing flood insurance for $20,000 a year and decided against it. They were told by FEMA that the structures at the field would likely not take on any structural damage because of creek flooding.

“They’re looking at block buildings saying you’re not in the middle of the river. So you’re not having all that pressure. You’re just getting the backfill so what’s the odds of being pushed off the blocks,” Hartley said.

She noted flood insurance was not available for the field or land itself. Board President John Miller said it had been 19 years since the stadium last flooded.

Haines said they learned from this flood that the stadium now floods when the Ohio River hits 40 feet in Moundsville. Previously the stadium would flood when the river hit 42 feet; however, at that time the landscape was different as the nearby Walmart shopping area did not exist and an old bridge that once also contained a footpath was replaced.

Haines said the district’s workers did “a wonderful job” of preparing for flooding. She noted there were a few educators who got flood water in their homes and had to get tetanus and hepatitis B vaccinations at the health department.

Board members inquired as to how Cameron Elementary School fared during this flood. Both Haines and Price said because of the city’s efforts to clean out catch basins and storm pipes there was little water in the school from floor drains.