IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - Since the 2008 floods, Iowa City has purchased and leveled more than 90 homes, and now the city hopes to expand the effort after last year’s flooding.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports (https://icp-c.com/1dCUE9d ) the city wants to secure more than $1 million in state and federal money to buy nine flood-prone properties along the Iowa River.
In order to qualify for the roughly $1 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant and $136,000 in state money, Iowa City has to put up $204,000 to cover 15 percent of the project. The City Council will vote on the plan Tuesday.
“As our famous former public works director (Rick Fosse) used to say, the most significant flood control you can provide is moving occupants and businesses out of the path of the flood,” City Manager Tom Markus said. “I think that’s a fairly accurate way of describing what this program attempts to do.”
After the 2008 floods, $22.5 million was spent on 94 properties in two rounds of buyouts. If this program moves forward, it will be the first buyouts since then.
There are 26 eligible properties in the flood-prone area, and nine owners have expressed interest, said Tracy Hightshoe, who coordinates neighborhood services. If the city buys the homes, they will be removed.
“They’ll be demolished and dedicated to green space to eliminate the flood risk,” Hightshoe said. “And the Creekside properties, which are adjacent to the park, would become part of the larger Creekside Park.”
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Information from: Iowa City Press-Citizen, https://www.press-citizen.com/
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