PERRY BEGINS BUYOUT OF FLOOD PROPERTY

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County officials this week begin the process of buying out flood property near the Mississippi River, a result of last summer's flooding.

Presiding County Commissioner Karl Klaus said Tuesday, "We have been officially approved and know the guidelines in order to finish the buyout."

Kathy Mangels, director of grant administration for the SEMO Regional Planning Commission, has been working with county officials on the buyout plan. She said the county is receiving money from two agencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $304,108 through its hazard mitigation grant program. The county also received $296,352 in matching state money through the Missouri Community Development Block Grant Program.

The money was approved for acquisition of 42 residential properties. Klaus said, "These were all voluntary. We have a few people who were flooded who are remodeling and some others who have moved out but want to retain ownership of their property."

Requests to buyout agricultural and commercial properties were denied, Klaus said. In all, he said, 92 properties were damaged in the flood. The county applied for a total of $1,672,000.

Mangels said county officials will send a letter to those in the buyout area informing them of the process. She said those commercial and agricultural property owners whose buyout request was denied also will be notified.

The next step is determining fair value for the property, Klaus said.

"We want everyone on an equal basis," he said, "so we're hiring an appraiser. The property will be appraised at pre-flood value."

Mangels said title searches also will be conducted.

Eventually the county will negotiate a purchase price for each parcel. "The county then takes title of the property," Klaus said.

Mangels said the property then cannot be developed.

"It's been a long process," said Klaus. "On our end we will push this as fast as we can to get the people the money they have coming so they can get on with their lives."

Meanwhile, the Mississippi River last week flooded some areas of the county again. Eastern District Commissioner Melvin Moldenhauer said some small towns, including Wittenberg and Renfro are flooded. However the threat seems minimal.

A temporary levee built at the site of a break last summer is holding.

Perry County Sheriff Gary Schaaf said Tuesday, "Right now, everything looks pretty stable. The levee itself seems to be doing pretty well. We're keeping an eye on a couple of boils that had developed last summer."

Schaaf said Highway 51, closed after the levee break cut off access to the river bridge to Chester, appears safe. "We were concerned with the rain water," he said. "But now they have the pumps working. The only way 51 would be in danger is if the levee went again."

He said several state blacktop roads and a number of gravel county roads remain closed because of flooding.