Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Andrea Kemp – Staff Writer

Christmas storm damage totals to receive consideration

As the result of severe winter storms, Gov. Chet Culver recently asked President Obama to declare 27 Iowa counties federal disaster areas. If approved, Dickinson County could see a much-needed financial boost to keep summer maintenance projects on track.

Combined snowfall totals increase aid chances

Mike Ehret, Dickinson County emergency management coordinator, submitted totals from Dickinson County for FEMA consideration early this year, but, on Jan. 29, was given an initial notice that Dickinson County did not qualify for FEMA aid.

Since that announcement, the prospect of combining snowfall amounts with neighboring Clay County has been presented; an option Ehret says may help increasing funding chances for the county.

“They tell me that, at the time, they did not believe we had received enough snow over the period,” Ehret said. “I disagree with that. Since Friday’s announcement, they’ve decided that they do believe we’ve had enough snow because … they’re using the snowfall amount from Clay County, and because we’re contiguous with them, they believe we can now qualify.”

Dickinson County damage totals exceed $390,000

According to Ehret, towns in Dickinson County were able to submit figures for the most cost-burdening 48-hour period of the winter storm that hit during the Christmas weekend. Totals submitted by each town encompass costs incurred by snow removal, damages and overtime work. The community-wide cost totaled over $390,000.

Cost burdens for individual communities within Dickinson County were substantial as well. Spirit Lake submitted a figure of more than $87,000, and county maintenance crews single-handedly saw a $165,000 expenditure.

Ehret knows that maintenance costs were unavoidable, especially the payment of overtime to tireless road crews.

“It’s just something they have to do (work overtime),” Ehret said. “We can’t stop moving snow and keeping roads clean just because the budget is getting tight,” Ehret said.

Dwight Dohlman, public works director for the city of Spirit Lake, can attest to the long hours his crews worked to keep the city streets clear during the weekend.

“We had 13 guys … working 12 hours on Christmas day and (who) turned around the day after and worked 14 hours that Saturday,” Dohlman said. “And then a bunch of them came in on Sunday, so it was a lost Christmas for a lot of people.”

Winter costs to impact summer projects

With city and county budgets already tight, the added strain of winter road maintenance could have a wider-spanning impact.

“I know there’s been comments that some of the summertime maintenance of roads might get pushed back because the funds that were set aside for that are going to end up getting put toward snow removal,” Ehret said.

Dohlman is already prepared to continue work on a shoestring maintenance budget.

“There are a number of things that can be considered to cover the shortfall we’re going to see,” Dohlman said. “We were hoping to do some selective excavation in East Lake Okoboji and Center Lake and we have a number of street repairs that were scheduled, water quality projects, you name it. Anything we have is really on the chopping block at this point.”

FEMA hopes still alive

Ehret is optimistic that FEMA aid may still come through, and recalls the response after a late-spring snowstorm three years ago.

“In ‘07 we kind of thought that (it would be impossible to get FEMA aid) because I don’t think we’d ever gotten it before,” Ehret said. “We did and so we’re somewhat optimistic that we’ll get something again this time, especially since we did meet or even exceed the record snowfall amount.”

Ehret also looks to the timeline of the March ‘07 response as a possible time line for when FEMA funds could come through.

“Once they submit it to Washington it takes them up to three weeks to make a decision,” Ehret said. “We went through this in ‘07 where we weren’t included initially. At that time, it was three-to-four weeks after the initial declaration that we were added. So, it could be into March before we find out; but hopefully a little sooner.”

Total Figures submitted for aid consideration*

Arnolds Park: $22,162

Lake Park: $20,000

Milford: $42,277.04

Okoboji: $17,830

Orleans: ——

Spirit Lake: $87,635

Superior: $3,413.18

Terril: $16,914

Wahpeton: $8,553

West Okoboji: $7,188.80

County: $165,385.06

TOTAL: $392,343.61

*Cost incurred from snow removal, overtime, damages

Figures courtesy of Dickinson County Emergency Management Services