Ravaged by June floods, some in Blakeley seek buyout
Three months after storms severely damaged major roads and flooded homes, some residents of Blakeley Township tell emergency management officials they want out.
Ten residents wrote Scott County Emergency Management Coordinator Chris Weldon saying they're interested in exploring flood mitigation buyouts.
"Now that they've expressed that definite interest to me, I'll keep moving forward on it and hopefully we'll be able to make some kind of decision," he said. "It's not a quick process though. I hope people understand it isn't like this is something that is going to be done in a week or two."
Weldon said the county is also looking at rebuilding county roads 1 and 6, two of the main roads into Blakeley, though county officials have been discussing whether the third main road, County Road 60, will be rebuilt.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Blakeley was one of Minnesota's hardest hit communities during heavy June rains. Residents were forced to leave during one particularly bad night of flash flooding. For days and weeks, residents weren't able to access their homes, or had to be escorted in by local law enforcement because roads were not passable.
Blakeley Township and other storm-affected communities are in line for state funds available soon. On Tuesday, budget officials said Minnesota's $3 million disaster contingency fund should cover state reimbursement payments on summer flood and storm disaster repair projects between now and January.
Across the state, 37 counties and three tribal communities have been put on the Presidential Disaster Declaration. That means FEMA will cover 75 percent of the repair costs to state and local public infrastructure from this summer's flooding and storms. The state covers the remaining 25 percent.
Out of the total statewide damage of $40.8 million, the state would have to cover $10.2 million. Blakeley qualified for $2.6 million in government assistance.
Not all costs are ironed out yet.
Dakota County and the state are appealing FEMA's decision to leave the county off the Presidential Disaster Declaration.
FEMA's denial centered on the repair and rebuilding of Upper D Street in Mendota. The road cracked during June storms and the ground underneath partially washed away. Officials closed down the road to prevent further erosion.
FEMA covers only damage that occurred during the designated disaster period; between June 11 and July 11. Engineers say it is possible there was a pre-existing condition which led to the washout during June flooding.
The city would need at least $1 million to repair and reinforce the road. Inclusion of the project would put Dakota County over FEMA's threshold. The state has 30 days from the Aug. 26 denial to appeal the decision.