Scott County may get $84K in state, federal aid for ice storm damage

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County may receive almost $85,000 in federal and state assistance for damage from ice storms.

During the regular county commission meeting Tuesday, Joel Evans, county developer and emergency management director, provided county commissioners with an update on aid for damage from February's ice storms.

Evans said the preliminary figure for eligible reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency Management Agency is $84,384.03. Of this, 75 percent would be federal reimbursements and 10 percent would come from the state.

If this amount is approved, $9,430 would reimburse 911 and the sheriff's department with the remainder going to the county road and bridge department, according to Evans.

Evans said the figures must be sent to Washington, D.C., where officials will make a determination.

Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said these are "very preliminary" figures for eligible reimbursements for the ice storms.

Commissioners also discussed a flood-related leak in the law library at the courthouse.

An inspection of the roof will be needed to try to determine where the water is coming from. The plaster wall may also need to be stripped to find the leak, according to officials.

"We have some wall damage, carpet damage, bookcase damage," Burger said. The law books themselves "were high enough on bookshelves I think they are OK," he said.

Commissioner Ron McCormick said the books may be damaged, however, because the entire room is permeated with a distinct musty odor even though measures were taken to prevent mold and mildew. "We got a dehumidifier in there pretty fast," he said.

Burger suggested information in the law books may be accessible on the Internet. "I don't know that we need all those books anymore," he said.

Evans said he was contacted by officials from AmeriCorp regarding volunteers from the organization who could help move books from the law library while the leak is found and repaired.

Evans also advised commissioners that he and Norman Brant, county highway department superintendent, are slated to tour the county with a FEMA representative to look at the county's blacktop that was damaged by being submerged under floodwaters.

In related news, a FEMA mitigation outreach team will be a Lowe's in Sikeston from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. through Saturday to provide information on FEMA assistance.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, Terry Eakins and Karen Jones from the Mini Farms subdivision north of Sikeston asked commissioners for information regarding drainage problems in their subdivision.

Jones said ever since the Missouri Department of Transportation built up Route HH, water hasn't drained as well as it used to.

"It just sits there," she said. "I had water in my yard for three weeks."

"I know it's a concern," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said.

Eakins and Jones asked commissioners about Scott County Consolidated Drainage District No. 2 and other jurisdictions responsible for various ditches and for the installation of drainage culverts under roads.

Burger also recommended sending letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Solicitor General supporting the St. John's Bayou-New Madrid Floodway Project.