FEMA money for Sutliff is old news

You may have seen some media outlets reporting today that Johnson County will get $1.4 million for flood-damaged Sutliff Bridge.

Gov. Chet Culver's office issued a news release Tuesday saying that FEMA will cover 90 percent of the cost and the state will pick up the 10 percent local match.

This is old news. I reported earlier this month that FEMA and the state would pay for flood-related repairs. The county has known that for weeks.

The real story is that Johnson County is trying to decide what to do with the bridge, including whether to repair it at all.

I was talking with Terrence Neuzil, chairman of the county's Board of Supervisors, yesterday about another matter, and he brought up Sutliff. He reiterated that the county still didn't know what it would do.

An engineering firm is evaluating the bridge, and the county will see what it reports and go from there.

Supervisors say that most of the comments they have received have been in favor of rebuilding the historic structure. But some people have questioned the cost.

Another factor is that FEMA will pay for repairs associated with the flood. But Sutliff Bridge is more than 100 years old, and the county would have to pay for wear and tear that is not flood related. The engineer's report should shed more light on whether  any such repairs are needed.