Linn sheriff’s office prepares for flood repairs, remodeling

BACKGROUND

CEDAR RAPIDS — Last September, the Cedar River crested at nearly 22 feet — the second-highest level on record behind the 2008 deluge.

In response, Linn County officials put up 4,500 feet of sand barriers on May's Island in preparation.

In addition, the county evacuated operations from the island and closed nearby county buildings. All told, the county's courthouse, jail, Sheriff's Office, Juvenile Justice building and Jean Oxley Public Service Center were closed because of the flood.

Other than a little water in the courthouse basement, the island's buildings were spared from floodwater.

Nearby, the county Sheriff's Office, 310 Second Ave. SW, took on water as groundwater seeped back into the storm sewers and eventually into the basement. County officials cut holes into the basement floor to install sump pumps to mitigate water damage.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE

In late June, the Linn County Board of Supervisors approved a $464,000 contract to Unzeitig Construction, of Cedar Rapids, for repairs and flood mitigation of the Sheriff's Office.

The project not only will include repairs, but also aims to add drainage tiles and a permanent sump pump to the basement as an added shut-off to the sewer system to prevent backflow.

'We'll have some mitigation in place to better handle seeping groundwater,' said Garth Fagerbakke, Linn County facilities director.

In addition to repairs and flood mitigation efforts, the county has included some previously budgeted capital projects in the bid such as Americans with Disabilities Act-compliance updates to the parking lot and basement restrooms and locker room, Fagerbakke said.

Fagerbakke said the bulk of the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

Steve Estenson, Linn County risk manager, said his department will take the flood repair elements from the project documents and submit those to insurance. After that occurs, Estenson said he would have a better estimate on the final damage caused to the building by last year's flood.

Earlier this year, Estenson submitted the final documents to the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the September flood.

The total amount obligated for the disaster was a little more than $731,000.

Of that, the county had received by late May about $226,000, with the remaining to be received for protective measures taken before the flood — including sand barriers, labor, equipment and relocation expenses.

All told, the county expects to receive $557,000 from the federal government and will request $73,000 from the state. The remaining $100,000 will come from the county itself.

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com