State reimbursed for part of veterans home roof replacement

Two years ago, the roof on the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau was replaced at a cost of $983,000. A state appropriation funded the replacement. Now, the state is being reimbursed with federal funds covering 65 percent of the project, or $638,000.

"We had an opportunity to submit to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs a request for reimbursement. They have a priority list off which they work, and finally it made its way up the chain," said Viviane Rains, administrator of the Cape Girardeau facility.

She said the roof, installed in 1988, had reached the end of its life expectancy. "Fortunately the state did have funds available at the time, she said.