CHICORA — Residents near Chicora Elementary School who’ve experienced flooding several times over the past few years could soon get some relief.

Chicora Mayor Lisa Nagy was originally hoping to have a four-phase infrastructure update completed by this spring. However, getting money lined up for the project to redirect runoff water, now estimated to cost $80,000 to $90,000, has been difficult.

The project includes replacing culverts and adding larger drainage pipes.

She said the borough has sought funds from Butler County and the county housing authority to complete two of the phases. They’ve made “verbal commitments” to fund those parts of the project.

“We’ve been promised the money, but we don’t know when we’ll get that,” Nagy said. “It’s not tangible yet.”

However, the borough is requesting contractor bids for the first and third phases of the project.

She also is seeing support from the Karns City School District, since the runoff water crosses the Chicora Elementary property from a nearby creek to residential properties downhill. Phase four is proposed on and around school district grounds.

“We would appreciate any contribution, whether it’s physical activity on school district property, a financial contribution, or both,” Nagy said.

With the mayor in attendance, the Karns City School Board on Monday night briefly discussed the situation. The flooding issue in that area has come up at school board meetings a few times since fall.

Superintendent Eric Ritzert said while he has empathy for residents whose homes were flooded at least three times last summer, it would be difficult to use taxpayer money for a project that isn’t directly helping student education.

It also could create other issues.

“Finances aside ... From the district’s standpoint, if we enter any arrangement, we don’t want to accept any past, present and future liability” near Chicora Elementary or where there’s infrastructure issues elsewhere, Ritzert said. “As a neighbor in the community, it still behooves us to be a part of the discussion.”

The school board did not vote on whether to financially assist Chicora.

Residents have not reported any flooding since several heavy rainfalls last summer, Nagy said.

Nagy said she would like to have the project completed by the end of this year, but added, “It may not be realistic at this point.”