Butler City Council should be commended for taking a step toward remedying an issue that has been plaguing residents this summer.

Butler County denizens have been tormented by the onslaught of rain that has poured down on the area for the past few months, and some communities have been hit harder than others.

Residents living near Sullivan Run have long complained of the conditions that arise when heavy rain causes the creek to overflow.

Earlier this summer, resident Natalie Franko said that the creek has flooded 20 times during the 25 years she has lived near Sullivan Run.

Homeowners in the area have long been told that something would be done to help them.

After a devastating flood in 2017 that filled basements with muddy water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers promised to dredge the creek.

But that never happened.

In June, residents once again removed muddy water from their basements following weeks of heavy rainstorms, and some said they were skeptical about renewed promises to fix the situation.

On Thursday, city council awarded a $19,500 contract to Bauer Excavating of Butler to remove sediment from the creek from New Castle Street to Miller Avenue and also agreed to review a proposal from George Aubrey — owner of Aubrey’s Dubbs Dred Golf Course and Event Venue — to build stormwater retention ponds on his property.

Aubrey said he believes that building a pond behind the 12th hole green on his golf course and another near the 14th hole would slow stormwater flow and prevent flooding.

The cleanup effort at Sullivan Run is aimed to reduce flooding risks as the city awaits the state’s approval of a $4 million flood-control project at the site.

The city has secured $252,000 from the Butler County Infrastructure Bank to cover its share of that project.

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has submitted construction plans, while the city has sent the rights of way and easements obtained to the Department of General Services.

Now, the city is waiting on general services to approve the project.

We’re glad to see the city making strides toward finding solutions for residents near Sullivan Run who have been overburdened with cleaning up their homes after nearly every heavy rainstorm, and concerned about possible damages to their properties.

We hope that state agencies understand the sense of urgency with this project, and get the ball rolling as soon as possible.

Many residents near Sullivan Run are living on a week-to-week basis of not knowing whether their homes will face severe damage every time there’s rain in the forecast.

They deserve a swift response from their local leaders and state agencies as well as a little peace of mind.