11-04-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes November 4, 2013 4226 Since then, one of the properties has been included as part of the 2011 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), but the second property located at 1209 76 Avenue South was not included on the list. He said efforts have been made to add this home to the grant, but FEMA has denied the request. Mr. Berndt asked the board to consider using highway or flood sales tax funds to buy the property, which is valued at $205,500. The owner, Vickie Fonder, has moved out of the home and has asked for a definitive answer regarding a buyout from the county. Mr. Pawluk is unsure how the county would benefit from the purchase of this property, and is reluctant to approve the request because of the precedent it may set. Mrs. Scherling said the owner was under the assumption that her home was on the latest flood buyout list, and found out it was not included. Also, she said the home is vulnerable to flooding and has needed to sandbag during flood events. Mr. Vanyo asked if the purchase would help protect an entire neighborhood. He referred to the home bought with flood sales tax dollars in Round Hill Subdivision in which a levee was built to protect a larger area. Mr. Berndt said the purchase would allow for flood control alternatives, but was unsure whether the area could not be protected without buying the home. Mr. Vanyo does not support using sales tax dollars if it would not provide flood protection to the neighborhood. Mr. Montplaisir said the county also has another source of revenue in the emergency and flood mitigation fund, which is being used to pay the matching dollars needed for the recent home buyouts. Mr. Pawluk is not convinced the county cannot protect the area without buying the property, and still questions the benefit to the county. Mr. Berndt said the benefit would be one less home in Cass County vulnerable to flooding. Mr. Benson has spoken with the homeowner, who believed the property was on the flood buyout list. He said the land may be necessary for a future levee; however, this is dependent on whether additional homes are bought out in the neighborhood. MOTION, passed Mr. Pawluk moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to help the owner of property located at 1209 76 Avenue South to be placed on the next round of FEMA buyouts. Discussion: Mrs. Scherling said this still does not provide the owner with a definite answer regarding a buyout, and the owner has tried to sell the home but was unable to because of the potential of being bought out. Mr. Benson said the owner's intent for the past few years has been to either sell the property or be part of a flood buyout. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 12. FLOOD DIVERSION MONTHLY BILLING, Approved Mr. Montplaisir discussed the billing from the FM Diversion Board of Authority for the month of October, 2013. Expenses are the county's share of engineering, legal, and construction services associated with the FM Diversion project. The bill also includes half of the cost for the Minnesota share for October, 2013. The higher costs this month are due to an advance of $525,000 to the Army Corps of Engineers, the purchase of one property in Oxbow and one property in rural Minnesota, and two payments to CH2MHiIl.