Board votes to remove flood-damaged SE Minn. dam

Olmsted County commissioners have decided that the flood-damaged Lake Shady dam needs to be removed.

Commissioners voted 5-2 Tuesday to remove the dam.

The Post-Bulletin reports a decision on the dam was needed to speed up plans to restore a nearby bridge - the sole local crossing of the Zumbro River in Oronoco. The dam and bridge were damaged in September flooding in southeastern Minnesota.

A county engineer says bridge replacement plans will differ depending on whether the dam is retained or removed.

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Board Chairwoman Judy Ohly had asked for more time, to see whether FEMA could have money to augment up to $1 million offered by the Legislature to repair the dam. Repair costs are estimated at roughly $5 million.

But other commissioners weren't willing to wait.

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Information from: Rochester Post-Bulletin (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)