Scott County close to getting final estimate of ice storm damage

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County commissioners could soon have a final estimate of the ice storm damage from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For the past two days, county officials have met to devise estimates, Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said during Thursday's regular meeting. The meetings have consisted of Burger and commissioners Dennis Ziegenhorn and Ron McCormick, Highway Department supervisor Norman Brant; Joel Evans, county developer; and Tom Beardslee, a sheriff's department deputy who recently took over the position of 911 director.

"We're trying to come to an ice storm conclusion," Burger said. At 8 a.m. Friday, they met again with FEMA officials.

Burger said it's quite a task to assess all the damage and the total needed to repair it.

"Once we put our estimate in there for future work to be done, we have six months to complete that work," he said. "And we can't come back and ask for more money."

Whatever estimate officials come up with needs include all needed repairs and the man-hours the repairs will require, he said.

Also during Thursday's meeting, Brant met with commissioners to update them on culverts that have collapsed within the county due to the recent flooding.

"A lot of the culverts have fallen because they're full of trash," McCormick said.

Brant discussed prices for materials to replace the culverts. Although polymer pipes are a bit more expensive, he suggested those be used because they last an additional five to 10 years. No decisions were made.

Commissioners discussed problems brought on by beavers making dams in the culverts. "We can clear out the culverts, but then the beavers will rebuild the dams," McCormick said.

Brant reported a local person is trapping the beavers.

In related business, commissioners met with U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's staff in a "Kitchen Table Talk" to discuss issues important to the county and its residents following Thursday's meeting. The roundtable forum included officials in addition to residents.

A major issue in the meeting was the water problems and how they relate to the halted New Madrid Floodway-St. John's Bayou project, Ziegenhorn said. Gas prices and health care were also discussed.