Less FEMA money leaves $3 million gap for Linn County Community Services building

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has scaled back how much it will spend for a new Linn County Community Services building, leaving the county with a more than $3 million funding gap.

County officials were expecting FEMA to pay $7.8 million to build the facility that will house Options of Linn County and Linn County Mental Health and Development Disabilities in southwest Cedar Rapids. But the agency informed the county late last week that it's actually providing $5.9 million.

The county will take the matter up with FEMA officials this week.

“I can understand that they have a projected amount, and that can change, but could you do it quicker?” Supervisor Linda Langston said. “This is one of the struggles that you face when you work with FEMA.”

Bids are due Friday for the project. A generally favorable bidding climate might lower the price tag, estimated at $14 million. With $5 million from I-JOBS, that leaves the county with a gap of about $3 million unless the FEMA decision is reversed.

Supervisors also could bond for the money needed to finish the building, but that's not an appealing option in an election year.

Options of Linn County's old building was destroyed in the 2008 flood, and the mental health services offices will not return to the Witwer Center, a historic downtown building whose future is uncertain.