OTTUMWA —
The Ottumwa City Council will finalize details on a $16.2 million FEMA grant for the city’s sewer separation project at its meeting next week.
At the meeting, council members will vote to approve a project grant agreement between the city and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management for the 2010 Flood Protection Mitigation Project.
The more than $16 million in funds will go toward the West End Sewer Separation Project and the Ottumwa Water and Hydro flood wall protection.
Last year, the council approved the grant application in the amount of $16,132,100.
Since that time, Public Works Director Larry Seals noted, it came to the city’s attention that a request needed to be made to FEMA for a budget increase in the amount of $90,000.
The increase includes $60,000 for MOA historic mitigation measures and $30,000 for potential additional costs for historic oversight and mitigation measures if historic brick sewer trunk lines are discovered and deemed “adverse affect.”
FEMA approved this request, increasing the awarded grant amount to $16,222,100.
Seventy-five percent of the project is funded federally, 10 percent is funded by the state and 15 percent — or $2,433,315 — will be funded locally.
To date, the city has spent $157,408 on the project through different professional services, applications and surveys.
The state’s share of the $16.2 million federal grant will be covered by supplemental CDBG disaster recovery funding in the amount of $4,055,525.
This project has a completion date of Dec. 31, 2015.
Switching frequencies
The Ottumwa Police Department is implementing its interoperable communications project with a goal to switch radio frequencies from UHF to VHF in order to be able to communicate with area public safety agencies.
The first part of the project is to purchase nearly $55,000 worth of radio equipment from RACOM Corporation, of Marshalltown.
This first purchase will include four VHF frequencies, 17 mobile radios, three portable radios for school resource officers, one portable radio for a patrol officer and related accessories.
The equipment will be funded through 2011 CIP, Animal Control, a 2012 JAG grant and forfeitures.
The entire project will cost approximately $140,000.
The OPD has also been awarded a one-year alcohol enforcement grant for $78,000 from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau.
Police Chief Jim Clark said $45,000 will be used to purchase 10 in-car camera systems, with the remaining $33,000 used for overtime to conduct traffic enforcement activities.
The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers at City Hall. The meeting will air live on GO-TV, cable channel 6.
Local News
September 15, 2012
Putting the finishing touches on a $16.2 million grant
Police to begin switching radio frequencies, putting alcohol enforcement grant to use
- Local News
-
- Iowa hogs Negotiated 6,570 5,674 2,302 5,309 Other Market Formula 14,518 13,808 4,490 9,055 Swine or Pork Market Formula 56,698 44,918 48,829 36,677 Other Purchase Arrangement 41,830 18,650 23,934 21,470 Packer Sold (all purchase types) 5,208 1,278 1,561 997 N
- Ottumwa crushes Albia The Ottumwa red junior varsity softball team crushed Albia in a doubleheader Monday, blanking the Blue Demons 21-0 in game one and 21-2 in the nightcap. Ottumwa only needed three innings to win the first game and four to emerge victorious in the seco
- Veterinary clinic rezoned to commercial OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Veterinary Clinic is now officially a commercial district. At Tuesday's city council meeting, members voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning of the clinic from R-1 Single Family Residential to C-1 Commercial District, with Councilma
- Ottumwa lands 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference OTTUMWA — It takes two southeast Iowa communities to yank the opportunity to host the Iowa Tourism Conference from Des Moines. Ottumwa Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Mark Eckman was stunned by how quickly the Iowa Tourism Offi
- County to learn about disaster declarations OTTUMWA — The county is a step closer to finding out if they'll be getting money from the federal government. "FEMA was here last week, doing a damage assessment," said Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore during a meeting of the Wapello County Board
- Locals want to help Oklahoma emergency crews will report specific needs soon OTTUMWA — The sound of the telephone ringing is evidence to Julie Smithart that residents of Wapello County do care. The tornado damage to lives and property in Oklahoma has brought out the best in people, said Smithart, an AmeriCorps volunteer assig
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
- Making memories on stage -- and off OTTUMWA -- Sold-out shows last year inspired Bridge View Center management to continue finding high-quality acts, they announced Monday. The venue's executive director, Larry Gawronski, said last year, booking good, expensive shows was a "leap of f
- Roaring winds Southeast Iowa in clean-up mode after storm passes through OTTUMWA — Work crews in and around Wapello County put in a lot of hours. And they were ready to do it again. “We had the storms roll through there last night,” said Ryan Stensland, a spokesman for Alliant Energy. “Down in southeast part of the state,
-
Flood debris removal up for consideration
OTTUMWA — A month after heavy rainfall caused rivers and streams to flood Ottumwa streets and homes, the city council will solidify a plan to remove the debris left behind. At the council's meeting tonight, members will consider awarding the $12,500
- More Local News Headlines
