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Supervisors hear update on FEMA funding, outstanding assessments for large open-ditch drainage project; approve two repair requests
Summary
Kossuth County engineers updated supervisors on FEMA closeout work and outstanding assessments tied to an open-ditch drainage project (DD4); the board also approved two tile/repair requests and discussed a continuing dispute with a railroad over a separate drainage project (DD 90).
Kossuth County supervisors received an update on county drainage work tied to FEMA disaster funding and approved two repair requests during the meeting.
County staff described an open-ditch drainage project (referred to in discussion as DD4) that originally had costs near $1.1 million. The board previously approved a $700,000 assessment, and county staff said roughly $400,000 remained outstanding on the project pending additional FEMA and state reimbursements. The county reported it has already received more than $1,000,000 in FEMA dollars for related projects but said the precise final amounts and timing remain uncertain while FEMA and the state process paperwork and closeout documents.
"When we had that public hearing, it was substantially over a $1,000,000. It was close to 1,100,000, and we did a $700,000 assessment," a county official said. The board discussed interest, state shares, and the timing of the state's portion; staff said state funding (described in the meeting as the state's 10 or 15 percent share) is typically paid after FEMA closeout and remains outstanding for the DD4 project.
Supervisors approved two repair/plugging requests (request number 145 on D51 and request number 146 in section 20 of Lincoln) by motion. Supervisor Glass moved to approve the two requests; Supervisor Wachter seconded. The board voted in favor with no recorded opposition.
The meeting also addressed a separate drainage issue involving County Drainage District 90 and a railroad crossing east of Dakota. Staff and supervisors said they have tried repeatedly to get the railroad to respond to requests and that the lack of progress has caused substantial and ongoing damage to landowners north of the crossing. Board members said they had involved congressional and state legislative staff and that counsel has been engaged; they said they expect further discussion with the county attorney in the new year and acknowledged potential litigation.
Separately, a landowner-tenant, identified as Al Diamond (tenant for Roth Kasuth LLC), asked for permission to connect a farm drain to a county tile; county staff said they would grant verbal permission to proceed if the landowner provided paperwork for the county to review.
County staff identified Leon (a consultant) and Tyler (county staff) as working on FEMA paperwork and noted that FEMA had asked follow-up questions on crop damages. Staff said there was no date yet for when remaining funds would be paid.
The supervisors agreed to continue follow-up work with FEMA and to revisit legal options on the unresolved railroad crossing and longer-running drainage disputes.
