COUNTRY ROAD CREWS SKIPPED MAINTENANCE DURING FLOOD

JACKSON -- Cape Girardeau County's second flood in three years didn't strain the underfunded road and bridge fund too badly -- most of the money spent fighting floodwaters came from general revenue.

But the 19 people on the road and bridge crews had to drop much-needed maintenance to deliver sandbag materials and construct temporary levees.

Prior to the flooding, county employees hauled sandbag materials to Allenville and Dutchtown. Later, they hauled 2,000 tons of chat to Allenville to keep County Road 238 above water. Employees also hauled chat for a temporary levee along Highway 74 at Dutchtown.

In addition, as floodwaters rose they had to mark roads that were going to be underwater.

Scott Bechtold, county highway engineer, estimated the total cost to the county to be around $37,000. Hopefully, most of that will be recouped from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nobody will know how much money will be refunded until officials from Cape, Scott and Perry counties meet with State Emergency Management Agency representatives Friday.

While some of the money for road repair and sandbag and levee materials came from Cape Girardeau County's already strained road and bridge budget, Larry Bock, 1st district commissioner, said it was the time his crews spent away from routine maintenance that caused a problem.

"They had been starting to work on some new bridge projects, and other crews were widening some roads that landowners requested be widened," Bock said.

With Cape County's outstanding growth and more people headed into rural areas to establish their homes, he added, it is even more important to keep roads in good condition.

"We have limited resources and try to do the best we can with what funds we have," Bock said. "If we can come up with additional funds, we can do more capital improvements."

The Missouri National Guard helped with county roads some, volunteering to raise part of County Road 525 to 40 feet. However, the National Guard only worked on the project for weekend training and doesn't do many road projects for counties.