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Rock Valley council adopts loan authorization, endorses multiple housing grant applications as flood recovery continues
Summary
The Rock Valley City Council approved a resolution authorizing a loan agreement and adopted endorsements for several state disaster recovery housing grant applications as the city continues FEMA coordination, temporary housing planning and well-treatment efforts following July flooding.
Rock Valley Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo and the City Council on July 25 adopted a resolution authorizing the city to enter a loan agreement to borrow up to $10 million and approved a package of endorsements for state disaster recovery housing grant applications as part of ongoing flood recovery work.
The council held a public hearing on the loan authorization; the city clerk reported no written or oral comments. Councilmember Koldenhoven introduced Resolution No. 953-24 to enter into a loan agreement in a principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000; the motion passed with Councilmembers Van't Hul, Faber, Koldenhoven and De Kam voting aye. Granstra was absent.
At the same meeting, the council adopted a set of related resolutions (Nos. 945-24 through 953-24) endorsing submission of State Disaster Recovery new housing grant and Workforce Housing Tax Incentive Program applications for projects and developers including Van Ginkel Construction; Valley Relief Homes LLC; Riverview Apartment, LLC; Valley Vue I and II; Kyle Spaans; and Kapps Properties, LLC. Councilmember Koldenhoven introduced the endorsement resolutions, and the votes were recorded as unanimous among present members.
City Administrator Van Maanen said staff will schedule a call with FEMA representative Terry Brown to review a map of damaged homes. Temporary housing units have been constructed but remain subject to FEMA approval, and longer-term, intermediate housing is in early planning stages. Economic Development Director Miller is leading efforts to identify permanent housing solutions.
The council also discussed immediate utility impacts. The city is operating on two wells while remaining wells continue to fail testing requirements; staff are treating and testing wells daily and have engaged Thein Well for ongoing shock-and-treat work. The council debated short-term options and logistics for housing flood-affected residents, including using Rivers Bend Campground for temporary shelter; electric work and temporary road repairs at the campground were reported as nearly complete but longer-term infrastructure work remains pending.
To streamline administrative steps for recovery, the council adopted Resolution No. 954-24 authorizing Mayor Van Otterloo, City Administrator Van Maanen and City Clerk Vande Kamp to sign and submit documentation to insurance companies, the State of Iowa and FEMA related to 2024 flood recovery efforts.
The council moved into and later closed an executive session; no substantive details from that session were disclosed in the public minutes. The meeting adjourned later the same day.
