New Cedar Rapids school administration building won't be built in the flood zone

Administrators say the Cedar Rapids school district's new administrative services facility won't be built in a flood zone, despite the history of the area where construction is planned.

Some of that area at 2933 Ellis Rd. NW flooded in June 2008. But administrators said that where the district plans to build was unaffected.

“I asked that question myself because I was concerned the we not put the district in the situation of a future problem,” Superintendent Dave Benson said.

Last month, board members unanimously voted last month to build the new facilities on 7.44 acres the district bought in April.

Floodwaters exceeded both the 100-year and 500-year flood plain off Ellis Road NW in 2008. According to an elevation study by Shive-Hattery Inc., the district will build its offices more than 20 feet away from the 2008 flood line.

This land stayed dry, Charles Conrad said. He and his wife, Christina, sold the land to the district.

“It's further back and higher from the area that flooded,” Conrad said.

The couple's home took on seven feet of water in 2008. They received a buyout offer from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but Conrad said it left them owing $35,000.

According to documents The Gazette obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, Conrad contacted Dave Dvorak, the district's building and grounds manager, about selling to the district.

Land bought out by FEMA is typically returned to green space, including parks and nature trails. The district would not be able to purchase the property to expand for future development.

Dvorak shared the information with then Superintendent Dave Markward and Steve Graham, the district's executive director of business services. Dvorak stressed that a FEMA buyout would make the land, which he called “mostly high and dry,” unavailable for future expansion.

Documents, including e-mails between administrators and board members, show the purchase was made for an undefined future use.

“They were keeping their options open, I guess,” Conrad said.

The purchase cost the district $145,000. Of that, the Conrads received $138,214.80. The rest covered the appraisal and other fees.

Five district buildings were damaged in the June 2008 flood - the Education Service Center, the ESC Annex, the carpenter/paint shop, the main warehouse and the food service warehouse. The services have operated out of temporary facilities at Kingston Stadium and in leased space at 931 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE.

Graham said the district has asked Shive-Hattery to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine the appropriate time to dispose of the flooded properties. Money received from selling the facilities would go into the district's SILO fund.

The price tag for the new facility, which will include all district services, is expected to be $35.05 million. FEMA funds will cover $12.466 million of that. The rest will be covered by school infrastructure local-option sales tax proceeds.

The project timeline calls for the district to begin moving into its new facilities in January 2012. If the district doesn't complete construction by May 27, 2012, it runs the risk of forfeiting FEMA and state recovery financial assistance.