Business owners along East Main who have dealt with chronic flooding may see some relief if the city opts to apply for flood-control grants.

Tuesday, August 14, 2001

Business owners along East Main who have dealt with chronic flooding may see some relief if the city opts to apply for flood-control grants. But the council decided Monday to hold off on any grant applications until after the planning department can conduct a preliminary study.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offer matching grants for flood-plagued areas, said City Manager Paul Sparks. The money could help the city either acquire property in the East Main flood plain or help business owners flood-proof their buildings.

&uot;The idea would be that we clear the area and either leave it as open space or redevelop the area with flood-proof buildings,&uot; Sparks said.

The FEMA grant involves flood-proofing the properties, or raising the finished-floor level of rebuilt structures above floodwater levels. Sparks said Albert Lea Car Wash at 410 East Main is the most visible example of a flood-proofed property, though cars had no access to the business due to high waters on the street.

While the FEMA grant offers flood-proofing money, the DNR grant provides funds for business relocation, but would prohibit further development within the area once the buildings were cleared, Sparks said.

&uot;Essentially, we’d have another park on our hands,&uot; Sparks told the council.

Councilor Al Brooks said the management of the Union Center, one of the worst hit buildings during the last flood, can’t carpet any of the interior of the building because flooding seems to occur annually. Even heavy rains threaten to flood the area during the summer and fall, Brooks said.

&uot;They are nervous because the next rainfall could flood them out again if it’s heavy enough,&uot; he said.

Brooks thinks business owners along East Main are in favor of exploring the grant programs and proposed the city move ahead with the application process. But Councilor Ron Sorenson said the council needs more cost information before seeking any grants.

&uot;We need to look at all the ramifications of it before we look at applying for grants,&uot; he said. &uot;Some of those properties have changed hands even though they knew about the flooding situation.&uot;

If acquiring the property involves condemnation, the cost of participating in grant programs could be too high, Sorenson said. Even if the grant follows a 90 to 10 percent split, 10 percent of a multi-million dollar flood-control project could become unrealistic, he said.

Mayor Bob Haukoos suggested directing the city planner to determine exactly which properties are in the flood plain while gathering statements from all the property owners indicating support for the grants.

Sparks said the grant application could take over a year, so any preliminary studies would probably expedite the grant process should the city opt to apply.

Brooks rescinded his motion to begin applying for the grants, but pledged to bring up the issue again after construction season ends in the fall.