Bill provides $11 million in funding

ST. PAUL — Governor Mark Dayton signed legislation on Tuesday that provides funding for flood and disaster relief for Minnesotans.

Last summer, 37 counties — including Freeborn County — and three tribal governments were declared a major disaster by President Obama following severe flooding.

Three counties were not included in the President’s declaration, but did qualify for help from a new state public assistance program.

“Last June, communities across Minnesota were declared a major disaster after heavy flooding,” Gov. Dayton said. “The bill I signed into law today will help Minnesotans rebuild, repair roads and other infrastructure, and to restore our natural resources. I thank the Legislature for acting quickly to pass this important legislation.”

The bill provides $11.88 million for flood and disaster relief. The bill includes $3 million to be used as a 20 percent match for Federal Highway Administration emergency funds used by local governments to repair roads following the June 2014 flooding.

This funding will help repair federal aid eligible roads, such as trunk highways, and county roads that are not eligible under FEMA.

The bill also sets aside $2.4 million for the Board of Water and Soil Resources to repair damage to existing conservation areas.

In 2014, 37 counties and three tribal governments were declared a major disaster by President Obama.  The FEMA eligible counties and tribal governments are: Beltrami, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Dodge, Faribault, Freeborn, Hennepin, Jackson, Koochiching, La Qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Rock, Scott, Sibley, Steele, Todd, Wadena, Waseca, Watonwan, Wright, and Yellow Medicine, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Prairie Island Indian Community, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa.