Flood’s impact still an issue for Wapello Co. Supervisors

By MATT MILNER Courier staff writer

OTTUMWA — The Wapello County Board of Supervisors say it’s unlikely the county will be allowed to keep the flood debris Dumpsters out as long as they might have hoped.

Board Chairman Jerry Parker said federal officials asked him about the Dumpsters. They questioned why the county needed them in place through Dec. 1. Flooding in Iowa largely subsided by the end of June, which means most areas have had the chance to get a good jump on cleanup.

But river levels didn’t fall in Ottumwa until much later in the summer. The river also rose to two secondary crests after the first, 20-foot crest. Most areas in Iowa didn’t have that challenge.

“I explained to them there were several circumstances that made us a little bit different,” Parker said. “There are people just now getting into their homes.”

The county signed a contract to place the Dumpsters near the hardest-hit areas in Wapello County, and will receive federal reimbursement for the cost. Residents filled 80 Dumpsters in July, and quadrupled that in August.

They’re still being used. The Dumpster on Rabbit Run Road was overflowing on Tuesday, though it was evident some people were using it for items other than flood debris.

That shows need, something federal officials are not questioning. But supervisors say the county is unlikely to be able to keep the Dumpsters in place past Dec. 1. There is an appeal process and supervisors are looking at how to go about getting an extension. Prospects are very uncertain, however.

“We don’t really know the date yet,” said Supervisor Steve Siegel.

“No,” Parker agreed.

Adding to the challenges is the fact that the flood map changed. Homes that were clear after 1993 are in some cases below the map’s requirements now. Homeowners who want to rebuild in that situation have to raise their homes.

Even if the homeowners don’t have to raise their buildings, they face costs for septic system replacements. Parker said some believed that if an older system worked before the flood and was working afterward, they didn’t need to put in a new system. That’s not the case. Property owners whose systems are not up to code must replace them, regardless of whether they work.

The concern isn’t new. Some homeowners were talking about the septic system rules even before flood waters receded from their properties. They say they shouldn’t have to pay to replace a working system.

Supervisors said they understand property owners’ frustration, but there is little they can do about laws they didn’t pass.

Further complicating flood recovery in the area is the potential buyouts of flood victims. Buyouts are common after major flooding, but the supervisors see a major snag for Wapello County.

Parker said most of the people who live in areas hit by this year’s flooding lease the site from a separate landowner. That’s a different situation than when a buyout targets an owner who also resides on the property. He doesn’t think most landowners along the Des Moines River are willing to sell because it would permanently alter their incomes.

The county is willing to examine the potential for buyout participation, but supervisors are skeptical about the prospects.

Supervisors also signed off on the proposal for $2.5 million in bonds to finance road repairs. The bonding isn’t directly related to the flooding since it involves 87th Street, but it will help free up money in the county’s general fund to help handle roads impacted by the floods.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com