Posted: 11/13/07
August flood damage to county has reached the $5 million mark
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
The price tag on the infrastructure repairs to Houston County roads and bridges continues to climb. At the Nov. 6 meeting, Houston County Commissioners learned the county has spent nearly $5 million in materials and labor. Highway Engineer Marcus Evans presented that sobering figure to the board.
"Iím a little concerned about the countyís cash flow when that much money has been spent," Evans said. "We havenít seen any money from FEMA yet. They are to pay 75 percent of the costs, and the state will be helping with the other 25 percent. I checked with the state and was told there is a chain of command that everything must move through. The state people thought it would be another week or so."
When asked if there would be any type of money crunch, Count Auditor Peter Johnson said the steady flow of money coming in from property tax payments have helped the situation somewhat. It was also pointed out that the state did put a safety net in place in the amount of $26 million to be used if and when local government agencies run into cash flow problems due to the August floods.
Evans also reported Mn/DOT put $5 to $6 million in place as a secondary safety net for the same purpose.
"All indications are that FEMA will be completing the paperwork very soon and we should start seeing the reimbursements," Evans said. "They have been very good to work with, and I really donít see any problems. But it is amazing just how much damage our local roads and bridges sustained."
In other action
State money for bridge repair
While it wasnít one of the bridges that sustained major damage during the August flash floods, bridge #28539 spanning Sullivan Creek on CSAH 20 in Union Township will be rebuilt. According to Evans, the bridge was scheduled to be rebuilt through a state bridge improvement program. The funding was approved last year. The low bid was $179,777.50. That is the amount the county will receive through the state grant. Work on the bridge will begin next spring.
Mitigation grant program
Emergency Services Management Director Kurt Kuhlers gave an update on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) that Houston and Fillmore counties will be participating in as a joint venture.
The program will study the damage sustained last summer and make recommendations to help improve the situations to help mitigate future storm damage. The two counties will conduct the planning process together, to help cut the costs. Each county will, however, have their own separate plans.
The cost of the planning process to Houston County is $94,797, which will be funded 75 percent by the federal government. The countyís share will be $23,699.25.
Kulhers said the match can be an in-kind match, which would include clerical and in-field work. While the county committed the $23,699.25, Kulhers felt the actual cost to the county will be less.
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