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.

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.)