Flood-damaged home near Mount Vernon leveled

MOUNT VERNON – It destroyed property and swept decades of memories downstream, but the 2008 flood also tore apart neighbors.

For 37 years, Bob Schneider lived at 1070 Ivanhoe Road, just off Highway 1 south of Mount Vernon.  But after the flood, he and his wife, Helen, were forced to move. They chose a place on higher ground near Center Point.

“I wish it wouldn't have happened, because we're also losing good neighbors,” Helen Schneider said. “We like where we're at now, and we've acquired new neighbors, but we loved it here. We just hate to see it go.”

An excavator leveled the Schneiders' 125-year-old home Monday. The remaining 10 buyout properties in unincorporated areas of Linn County are scheduled to come down this month, if the weather cooperates. Three properties in other rural parts of the county came down in April.

Helen Schneider                   Bob Schneider

The Cedar River had never threatened the Schneiders' home like it did nearly two years ago. Bob and his son-in-law decided to abandon the house in the early morning hours of June 12, but Bob soon realized he forgot his wallet.

He and a few former coworkers returned in a paddle boat to get the wallet, medicine and some clothes. The water was up to the bottom of the mailbox when they arrived. When they left about 15 minutes later, it was underwater.

While they were inside the house, one of the men took a peak in the basement.

“Bob, you don't want to look down here,” the man said. “It's not good.”

They got to dry land and didn't come back until the water had gone down. The couple returned again Monday to watch the demolition.

“It's a sad day, but our life has gone on,” said Bob Schneider, 69. “This kind of gives us closure for it.”

As the heavy machinery ripped off parts of the roof, Schneider thought of friends who helped him when he needed it the most.

“I had a lot of help,” Schneider said. “People I worked with and neighbors around here were really great. I owe a lot of thanks for all the help that they've given me.”

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More demolitions are scheduled this week. The tentative demolition schedule is shown below:

• May 5: 1109 Bertram Road SE, Cedar Rapids
• May 6: 1111 Bertram Road SE, Cedar Rapids
• May 7: 1115 Bertram Road SE, Cedar Rapids
• May 11: 1501 Bertram Road, Cedar Rapids
• May 13: 1505 Bertram Road SE, Cedar Rapids
• May 14: 2730 Chesmore Beach Lane, Coggon
• May 17: 4254 Chain Bridge Road, Cedar Rapids
• May 19: 4297 Chain Bridge Road, Palo
• May 21: 4914 Old River Road, Ely
• May 25: 5100 Old River Road, Ely

Active Thermal Concepts is scheduled to have all asbestos abated to allow this schedule to be met. Conestoga-Rovers and Associates will provide a debris monitor throughout the demolition schedule.

A total of 14 properties were on the buyout list in unincorporated Linn County. Demolition of the other three properties was completed earlier this month.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay 75 percent of the buyout cost and the state of Iowa will pay 10 percent. The remaining 15 percent will be paid with Community Development Block Grants.

As part of the buyout agreement, the houses will be demolished and Linn County will be required to maintain the land as green space.

For questions about the buyouts and the demolitions in unincorporated Linn County, contact the Linn County Planning and Development office at (319) 892-5130.

VIDEO:  Crews Demolish Flood-Damaged Home Near Mount Vernon

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