Corbett tells Rotary that he's 'turning up the heat' to get Army Corps to see it city's way

Mayor Ron Corbett told the Downtown Rotary at noon today that he intended to continue to “turn up the heat” on state and federal officials so the city gets what it needs in its flood recovery.

Case in point, Corbett said he, the City Council and city officials now are working to challenge the Army Corps of Engineers' recent draft assessment, which stated that the city's preferred flood-protection plan would cost about twice as much as the value of the property it protects.

Corbett noted that the Corps cannot recommend a flood-protection plan unless it has a benefit-cost ratio in which costs and benefits are at least equal. Corbett, though, added the Congress has approved flood-protection systems that do not meet the Corps' ratio and do not obtain a Corps recommendation.

The city's preferred flood-protection system has identified the need to buy out about 100 properties to create a greenway, about 550 more to make way for levee work and infrastructure changes related to levee building and another 600 or so properties damaged “beyond reasonable repair.”

Corbett said the city needs to get answers to its questions about the Corps' draft conclusions because some property owners in the middle group of about 550 owners now are asking to renovate their homes if the homes don't need to come down for the construction of a new levee and flood wall system.

Time is crucial, he added. He said the city needs to push for funding for a flood-protection system this year or next year or risk being left out.

A Corps letter to Corbett last week defends the Corps' work to date.

Corbett noted that the Coralville Lake reservoir above Coralville and Iowa City helps protect those communities against floods, and Corbett said the Cedar River watershed above Cedar Rapids needs a reservoir.

The Corps letter to Corbett, though, all-but dismissed the idea of a reservoir because of cost and disruptions to communities that would have to make way for a new body of water.

Both Corbett and Kelly Hayworth, city administrator in Coralville, spoke to the Downtown Rotary about flood recovery and regional cooperation. They were introduced by Rotarian Chuck Peters, president/CEO of Gazette Communications Inc.

In his comments about buyouts, Corbett noted that about 80 property owners have not agreed to be bought out in the greenway area, though he predicted that some of those will change their minds once they see the city begin to demolish homes around them in the weeks and months ahead. Corbett said the city will need to have a second round of buyout offers so some of those who change their minds can participate.

Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers will be in Cedar Rapids on March 11, Corbett reported.