Drained Lake Delhi on August 18th.
The Delaware County Board of Supervisors is pledging to support rebuilding the Lake Delhi Dam — in spirit, but not with cash.
One supervisor says providing county funds for a privately-owned structure wouldn’t be fair to other residents and places in the county that suffered flood damage. Supervisors chairman Jeff Madlom says the board did agree to search for ways to help find funding.
Madlom says they’re looking for grants and for someone who knows how to write grants. The 92-year-old dam gave way in late July, draining what was a popular nine-mile recreational lake in northeast Iowa, damaging or destroying up to 300 homes. Madlom says Delaware County also intends to take part in the National Flood Insurance Program and an ordinance should go into effect later this month.
The first reading of the ordinance will come during the September 7th meeting, with a second and final reading possible on September 13th. After that, the entire 18-page document will have to be published and then it will be an ordinance by September 22nd, if all goes as planned.
If the supervisors adopt the ordinance, it will allow Lake Delhi flood victims to collect individual recovery assistance from the state or federal governments. It will also allow Delaware County residents to get flood insurance at a reasonable price. Madlom says he’s glad the county and Lake Delhi are able to work together on the issues.
“We’re trying to work so closely with everyone,” he says. “We’re trying to put this county back together. Do we agree on everything? Absolutely not, but we’re working as hard as we can for a common goal.” Meanwhile, the Lake Delhi Task Force Committee plans to hold the first of several public meetings on Friday, September 10th at Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi.
By Janelle Tucker, KMCH, Manchester