12-20-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--December 20, 1993 1147 15. Emergency Fund--S30,000 to account for the purchase of sandbags and transfer of actual dollars out of the fund Housing Grant--S33,455 to special fund. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, Flood protection study Jeffry Volk, Project Engineer with Moore Engineering, sent application to the county for a study grant to analyze various alternatives to flood prevention available to existing structures along the lower Sheyenne and Maple Rivers because of flooding this past summer. The request was for the Cass County Board of Commissioners to sponsor a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of Cass County Joint water Resource Districts (WRD) in the amount of $100,000, with a local match of $50,000 from the WRD. Present at today's meeting were Mr. Volk, Attorney Daniel Twichell and Fred Selberg representing the WRD, Jeff Nikle, homeowner representing the lower Sheyenne River flood victims, Larry Schafer representing Congressman Earl Pomeroy's Office, and Mark Sovig from Lake Agassiz Regional Council. Since the time when the application for a study grant was sent to the county, Mr. Volk said they have now been advised to apply for a project grant rather than a study grant because there is a good chance that the project will be accepted for funding, if they can meet the application deadline of January 3, 1994. Mr. Yolk said he is now requesting a project grant, instead of a study grant, with a preliminary engineer's estimate of a total project cost of two million dollars. He said there are approximately 420 homes in the project area. Mr. Nikle urged the Commission to proceed with this application allowing them to use Cass County Government as the vehicle to apply for this grant. Concerns of those homeowners affected by the 1993 flood were contamination of wells, inoperable septic systems and having no access for emergency services with roads being under water. Mr. Wieland suggested approving the grant application subject to State's Attorney review, since the application is changing from a study grant to a project grant application. Mr. Goff asked that the documents be ready for his review by next Wednesday, and he will meet with the Commission Chair after examining the documents. Mr. Volk said the Cass County Joint Water Resource Board has committed to cost-sharing the non-federal portion of the two million dollar project, which is $500,000. He said this money will come from special assessment districts, although he cannot promise the WRD will not spend any levy money because a situation may occur where a project is direly needed and, if it is in a low-to-moderate income area, WRD may have to participate. No financial commitment is being requested from the Cass County Commission, and Mr. wieland said the county will be asked to make a decision on the grant acceptance before the WRD will expend any money. Mr. Volk said it is anticipated that the project will be funded by those who benefit from it, and he assumes Lake Agassiz Regional Council will administer the program.