Keokuk, IA –
Keokuk
Dozens of homes experienced flooded basements during severe weather a few weeks ago. Keokuk received about 12" of rain during a short timeframe.
Five members of the Keokuk City Council decided to hold a special city-wide clean-up. The event would run July 18-August 14.
Four members of the panel were not at last night's meeting.
Mayor Tom Marion says this clean-up will allow anyone with flood damage to clean-up their properties.
"Instead of putting our people in a position to weed out who was or was not damaged by the flood, it is there for everybody," said Marion.
Residents will receive free vouchers for the landfill. A distribution plan for those vouchers is being worked out.
The council members talked about the idea of only giving vouchers to only flood victims. But city staff said it would be too difficult for them to differentiate.
Police were called to city hall, earlier this week, after a resident became forceful in his attempt to obtain a voucher. This was before the plan for the July 18-August 14 was announced.
The upcoming clean-up will replace a similar event scheduled for this fall. About $8,000 was budgeted for that event.
Lee County
The Lee County Board of Supervisors could discuss a plan to help pay for flood clean-up as early as next week.
Supervisor Gary Folluo brought up the idea earlier this week. He said the county should provide about $2,000 to help cover landfill dumping fees.
Supervisor Larry Kruse says that would set a dangerous precedent.
"An example is all the crop damage that has been caused by the excessive rain," said Kruse. "Do we get into funding losses there because it is flooding."
Kruse says he sympathizes with the flood victims, but he says this is an issue in which the county should not get involved.
The supervisors said it would delay a decision until after the Keokuk City Council met.