Jasper County Commissioners contemplate buyout of Kendricktown property after latest flood
On Thursday, nearly 20 homes along
Most of the homes are in the unincorporated Kendricktown area. Last week, heavy rains forced the
That area was the target of a buyout effort after an earlier flood in 2007, said
The earlier buyout would have cost the county about
"We don't know for sure whether the problem earlier was the damage wasn't widespread enough, but with this flood, the water got all the way up to the eaves in the houses," Bartosh said. "We'll be contacting
Bartosh said commissioners would like to buy the land, raze the buildings or move mobile homes, and use the land as a park.
"I think that would be a good use for it, because it's close to Kendrick House and that's already a tourist spot," he said, referring to a home on
Funding for flood buyouts is governed by a strict process and can take about 18 months to complete, according to
The Kendricktown land includes some owner-occupied properties and some that are rentals. It adjoins a five-acre tract known as Walnut Bottoms that has been developed for recreation.
"Part of it was owned by the (
Dozens of Kendricktown residents had been staying at
Last week,
The flood, the second worst on record for the
Reyes said the flood last week rose to chest height in his home in 10 minutes. They left behind everything, including furniture and clothes, when they evacuated.
His sister, her husband and children, who live nearby, also had to evacuate quickly.
"We were thinking we couldn't get out," she told the Globe through a translator this week. "We left everything."
Though homeowners and renters can start cleanup, Christy said they will have to get permits before repairing or rebuilding flood-damaged structures.
"We need to evaluate the damage, that's part of the floodplain requirement," he said.
Construction permits for rebuilding in the wake of a flood are required as part of the requirements for county participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides eligibility for flood insurance, flood disaster assistance, state and federal grants and loans, and buyouts for flood-prone properties.
Special conditions apply to substantially damaged building in which the cost of repairs is 50 percent or more of the building's pre-flood market value. If a building is found to be substantially damaged, the program may require elevating or floodproofing the structure to reduce the potential for future flood damage.
Homeowners who want more information can call Tri-State Engineering at 417-781-0643, or the
In addition, workers at the health department can give landowners advice about dealing with mold issues or decontaminating drinking water wells after flooding, said
Commission meeting
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