Flooding costs in Brown County being tallied

NEW ULM - Brown County commissioners learned more details Tuesday about the mounting costs of the June 19 deluge and week-long rains that dumped more than 10 inches of rain in and around the county.

"I've never seen so much rip rap moved by water. We've fixed some things a number of times, spending about $50,000 cleaning out roads and ditches, cleaning debris and hauling gravel," Brown County Highway Engineer Wayne Stevens said.

"We're keeping track of everything in case FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) comes in. We would be reimbursed for overtime," Stevens said. "This is the most mud and trees I've seen on County Road 10 since I've been here (12 years)."

Brown County highways closed include CSAH 8 south of the Franklin Bridge, CSAH 10 east and west of TH 4, CSAH 13 in the Camelsback area and the Beussman Bridge Road.

The Brown County website (www.co.brown.mn.us), features a number of flood information links including clean-up assistance for all county residents, flood and wind damage cleanup and repair grants for veterans, and flood cleanup tips.

In other action, commissioners unanimously approved:

A 85.23-acre land acquisition to the Vogel Wildlife Management Area in Section 3, Stately Township, for inclusion into the state's Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposed a $4,417.50 annual Payment In Lieu of Taxes for five years, based on 3/4 of one percent of the property's appraised value. After five years, the county could re-determine what the annual payment would be.

Withdrawing from the State Department of Human Services (DHS) Chemical Dependency pilot project.

In the fall of 2013, Brown County was invited to join a chemical dependency pilot project to begin Jan. 1, 2014, but was later delayed to July 1.

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Flooding costs in Brown County being tallied