Special meeting addresses flood, hears concerns

Emotions ran high at times as 50 or more city residents attended a special New Richland city council meeting the evening of Sept. 28 to share their concerns and learn about the city’s planned response to the Sept. 18 and 19 flooding.

 

District 1 county commissioner Doug Christopherson, and Allison Farole, director of the emergency management division of the state department of public safety were speakers during the gathering.

 

Christopherson described some of the options proposed so far as studies have examined what it would take to keep water within safe channels even when flow is unusually high. He explained there are a number of proposed fixes which range from increasing culvert sizes and increasing the capacity of ditches by making them wider and deeper, to creating a separate channel which keeps much of the water from entering city limits. “The only real fix was diverting the water, but it wouldn’t be a 100% fix,” Christopherson said. Creating a new channel for the water comes with numerous complications, including ensuring the rerouted system also performs the field drainage the ditches were originally built for. 

 

The monumental cost of the project would require assistance from the state and even federal government; Christopherson said there are numerous steps needed to reconcile state drainage laws with the requirements and expectations associated with national-level funding. ”Minnesota has regulations that are not nationwide, so we have had to hire a ditch attorney to work with the federal attorneys. The federal economic development authority is assisting us to work out the details, so our application for these grants is acceptable and will pass all the quicker.” 

 

Farole wanted area residents to know of important damage assessment surveys which would be taking place at the end of the week. She said this assessment would aid in learning whether the flooding qualified for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. “Please answer their questions. If you’re not home, you will receive a door hanger with information for submitting your damage assessment. We’re here to answer questions and they will be wearing clothes with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) logo, so look for them.”

 

Representative Tom Sexton told those in attendance he has been working with Gene Dornink on the Minnesota Senate. “We want to make sure the state helps, of course,” he commented, “but the next step toward funding is in regards to rerouting the ditch. Since I’m on the bonding committee, this will be something that I can do within the house and senate. I will be addressing this issue toward the long term as well.”

 

New Richland Mayor Janda Ferguson then opened up the meeting for public comment. She added that the council is there to listen and asked all residents to use proper etiquette, decorum and respect while addressing the council. Community members went on to share their observations and feelings until past 10 p.m.

 

Heather Johnson of Aspen Avenue said, “I’m two houses down from the drainage ditch. I’ve had some problems and probably water in my basement six or eight times since I moved here in 2002. We had our worst flood in 2010. That’s 16 years ago and we still have the problem. I don’t want to move. I’m 79 years old. I am wondering if anything has been done since 2010 to make our town safer.”

 

Larry Muff of Broadway Avenue stated, “The police report said they were notified at 6 a.m. on Saturday. On Friday night at 10 a.m. my neighbors told me they had water coming up in their basement. I knew it was happening in our neighborhood. My neighbor called 911 at 9 p.m. that night, and he was told the city was notified. I drove around all night long, but not until 5 a.m. did I see city officials out. Where was everybody? Where is the breakdown of communications? “Where was the city’s response? I sat on the first flood control study and identified the flaws in it. Then we went to the second flood control study, and I will point out another flaw from Doug’s report. This design is for a 100-year flood, a hundred-year flood is 7 inches in 24 hours. We’ve been getting 7 inches in 10,12 or 16 hours. This last one came in 4 hours. That calculation cannot handle the water flows we’ve been getting. This is not a 100-year flood, this is a 1,000-year flood. Why aren’t we using a 1,000-year flood plan in this town?”

 

A resident of South Broadway said, “Since 2019 we never had any water issues in our house until last year when the city did our street project and contractors cut our sump pump pipe to the street and faced it back to our home, so we had a total loss. Now this year we had another total loss again.”

 

Dave Wilderbee of Second Street Southeast commented, “Been in our house for 54 years and never had this problem. Now lately, it’s getting to be a normal thing. Creek floods our backyard and water comes up our drains. Our taxes keep going up. They’ve doubled in the last 10 to 12 years. I want to sell my house; I cannot get flood insurance on it. Who would want to buy my house when only a couple inches of rain and it comes up my floor drains? The city points their finger at the county; the county points their finger at the city. They dug out the creek behind my house a number of years ago, left a mess and it didn’t help a thing.”

 

Doug Butchlot, South Broadway stated, “Since 2010 we’ve had five moderate to severe floods in this town. I have heard it will take 5 to 6 years to get a fix in place. Does that mean we can expect the city to flood three more times? I am assuming there are things that can be done that will expedite this process.

 

“The amount of work it takes to get money pales in comparison to the work people in this town have done to recover from this. The people that have been helping are great, but that’s the first step. But how are we going to stop this from happening again?”

 

Shelby Priebe of Aspen Avenue asked, “I am directing this question to Allison Farole of Homeland Security. I have been told it’s up to FEMA if my house is condemned or not. If you want damage numbers and totals, should those workers be allowed to enter my home to assess that damage? I’m not a contractor; I don’t know the amounts or if it will be condemned.”

 

Farole replied, “Please have that conversation with FEMA when they come to your home. Their rules for condemning homes, I don’t know. But get all your evidence. That includes photos, documentation, receipts, everything.” Priebe was told FEMA officials would be at New Richland City Hall on Thursday, and she could come to them if need be.

 

In addition to other information that was shared, there were handouts for those with children affected by the flood, organizations for coping with the disaster. Parents were advised it is very important to make sure, once living spaces are clear of water, that they are cleaned properly, following proper debris removal guidelines. Residents were warned to watch out for mold and black mold, which thrive in wet conditions.