Federal, state funds granted for flood mitigation project

Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius announced that over $260,000 of state and federal aid had been allocated to a flooding mitigation project on Dogwood Avenue at a Board of Supervisors Meeting Tuesday.

“We’ve been working on different options to try and find funding, but we’re fortunate to now have been awarded funding to help address flooding down there,” he said. “The rest will be at the county’s cost, so we will be making some improvements down there.”

Per the agreement, which the board approved Tuesday morning, the costs will be shared between the Federal Emergency Management Agency providing $231,000, the Iowa Department of Homeland Security providing around $30,000. The county will foot the rest of the bill, at least $46,277.55, according to a notice from the state.

The project, which must finish using the state funds by 2023 and the federal funds by Sept. 2024 according to their respective notices, aims to elevate a half-mile of roadway around the skunk river, including the McKain River Bridge.

“An engineering case study has been completed and identified the 100-year flood elevation,” an assessment attached to the notice said. “This project will raise the roadway to an elevation 2 feet higher than the 100-year flood elevation (including bridge backwater).”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com