Lake Delhi leaders looking beyond FEMA

Leaders of the effort to rebuild Lake Delhi believe they can succeed even without the Federal Emergency Management Agency's financial support.

“FEMA support is still very important to us, but a rejection of our appeal would not put an end to our rebuilding efforts,” said James “Buzz” Graham, chairman of the board of trustees of the Combined Lake Delhi Benefited Recreational Lake and Water Quality District.

Lake Delhi residents' own fundraising efforts, coupled with prospective aid from the state and Delaware County, would bring them close to the $10 million to $12 million estimated price tag for the project, leaders say.

The latest cost estimate is substantially less than the $24 million worst-case target put forth earlier for a dam built to high-hazard specifications.

Two recent independent engineering assessments put the cost at between $10 million and $12 million, according to Todd Gifford, a leader of the Lake Delhi Watershed Committee, a limited liability corporation formed to lobby the Legislature and other government entities for assistance.

“That tells us this thing is doable. We can raise the money through a number of different ways,” Gifford said.

Though a high-hazard dam would require a larger spillway and more mass to withstand more pressure, engineers said the cost differential between a moderate-hazard and high-hazard dam is not significant, he said.

Gifford said a $5 million Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund appropriation approved by the Iowa Senate is a key component in the rebuilding effort.

While that appropriation may be subject to change or even elimination in the ongoing budget battle at the Statehouse, Watershed Committee leader Dave Fry said he thinks Lake Delhi is well positioned in the debate.

Fry said Lake Delhi residents' commitment to raise $3.5 million, with pledges totaling nearly $1.1 million in hand, impressed legislators. “They want to see local skin in the game,” he said.

Delaware County Supervisor Jeff Madlom said Friday the supervisors would authorize a county bond referendum, in an amount yet to be determined, when the timing is right. That county commitment would contribute to the local match.

Although Lake Delhi leaders believe the dam could be rebuilt without FEMA funds, they hope they don't have to find out. They soon will file their second appeal of a FEMA ruling that the dam's owner, the Lake Delhi Recreation Association, is ineligible for federal aid because it is a private organization that does not provide essential government service to the general public.

At a meeting Thursday, the taxing district's trustees adopted a procurement policy identical to that of the state and Delaware County, at least partly in response to a review by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. The division had questioned Lake Delhi leaders' handling of FEMA funds received to aid recovery from a 2008 flood.

Graham said the new procurement policy would “make everything more open and ensure we are doing everything by the book.”

Stanley Consultants of Muscatine, a leading environmental engineering firm, has been hired to conduct the dam breach analysis that will determine whether the rebuilt dam must meet high-hazard or moderate-hazard criteria. That engineering analysis will be funded in part by a separate $350,000 appropriation approved by the Legislature and awaiting Gov. Terry Branstad's signature.

The Iowa Legislature this session also approved a bill that would expand the taxing district's board of trustees from three to seven members. While service on the board had been limited to residents of the taxing district, that bill will expand eligibility to include people who own property in the district but reside elsewhere. The bill also gave the benefited taxing district bonding capabilities similar to those of a municipality.

Madlom said the county supervisors will appoint the new trustees using criteria that have yet to be established. Additionally, taxing district voters will elect two trustees on July 19. Trustee Bruce Schneider said he will seek re-election. The seat held by Ed Schmidt, who recently resigned after it was determined he lives outside the taxing district, will be filled by election.