Work moves ahead on flood repairs
By Lori Berglund — Daily Freeman-Journal EditorRepairs to Hamilton County roads damaged in the June flood are speeding along. Engineer Danny Waide reported Tuesday that about 65 percent of the work has been completed, and crews are continuing to haul rock and repair washouts.
Work still ahead includes debris removal in ditches, as well as in the once-flooded rivers themselves. The force of floodwater literally uprooted trees along the riverbank in some areas and carried heavy logs down the current. As a result, large logjams can be seen at some of the main bridges over the rivers. Crews will be working to pull some of the larger debris out of the river as time allows.
Waide estimated that it would take another three to four weeks to complete the rock work.
SBA office still open
On a related flood note, the FEMA flood office in Webster City has now closed. However, the special SBA office - which also provides a multitude of flood relief services - will remain open at the Hamilton County Health Services building, west of Kmart.
In a briefer than normal meeting Tuesday, Hamilton County supervisors also approved a 28-E agreement for law enforcement mutual aid. Participating departments include the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Webster City Police Department, and the Jewell/Ellsworth/Stanhope Police Department.
Supervisors also accepted a $10,000 state grant for Veterans Affairs. The funds will allow 20 additional hours of service per week. It is the second year of the grant.
Supervisors also heard from Sheriff Denny Hagenson on a joint safety check conducted Friday night in Webster City the Iowa State Patrol, Ellsworth/Jewell/Stanhope, and Webster City police departments. More than 200 vehicles were pulled over for basic safety inspections between the hours of 8 p.m. and midnight.
While figures from all the departments are not yet available, Hagenson said his own officers wrote 10 seat belt violations, five citations for no driver's license, three citations for no insurance, two for no registration, one for a suspended license and one citation for open container of alcohol.
Another check will be conducted sometime in the future, Hagenson noted.
