FEMA green-lights Linn County’s Oxley Center project

Linn County has received the green light from the federal government to begin work at the county's new administrative offices.

“Monday they'll be full steam ahead” at the Jean Oxley Public Services Center, said Steven Estenson, the county's risk manager and authorized representative to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The county needed FEMA's formal approval, freeing the agency's $4.2 million share of the $14.8 million project, before work could start.

County officials were worried last week that the delay in FEMA's written approval could delay preparation work at the site until cold weather set in, forcing contractors to enclose and heat the foundation to allow newly-poured concrete to cure. Concrete shouldn't be poured below 50 degrees.

The new office building is being built in and around the gutted shell of the old administrative building, 930 First St. SW, and Estenson said that's apparently what caused the delay.

“Since we're altering the building, FEMA had to approve of the alterations,” he said.