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<br />historic buildings, and economic diversification from our agricultural dependency.
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<br />Recognizing the need for an intensive retention and recruitment program and long-range planning
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<br />in conjunction with the flood mitigation projects, we applied for and received a Community Based
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<br />Economic Development grant for $19,000 through the Department of Development and have begun a
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<br />succession of town meetings. Again the major problems encountered have been due to the changing
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<br />program regulations, code, and escalated cost Thus we will fall short in funding, even though building
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<br />owners are responsible for all code requirements and building improvements not associated with flood
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<br />mitigation. Many are also remodeling second stories, creating offices or badly needed living quarters.
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<br />We will continue to strive to obtain funding for completion of this critical project.
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<br />ACQUISITION/RELOCATION OF SEVERAL BUSINESSES Supplement I providing $20,500,
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<br />including matches by WDEG and OOD/CDBG, for acquisition appraisal for 13 designated properties,
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<br />and Supplement II providing $798,500, including matches by WDEG and OOD/CDBG, for actual acquisi-
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<br />tion and/ or relocation. When demolition is required, WEG with in-kind match by city crew and equip'
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<br />ment, will provide funding. There are three important reasons for moving these commercial activities
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<br />out of the floodplain:
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<br />. The farm implement dealership, car dealership, and mill are magnet businesses impacting other
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<br />businesses and lie directly on the river bank. If lost due to flooding, customers will go elsewhere.
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<br />. By the very nature of the types of businesses that located along railroads (fuel companies, agricul,
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<br />tural supply, chemical) contamination occurred and one fuel company is still operating just above
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<br />town, thus creating a potential hazard with each flood,
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<br />. The deed restricted to green space designation all flood way land along the river. Parkland,
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<br />recreation, natural plant and habitat restoration adds to the economic, ecologicat and social
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<br />welfare of the community.
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<br />SUPPORTING INFORMATION FOR ACQUISITION/RELOCATION PROJECT The city purchased
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<br />33 acres of land at $330,000 on the southwest end of the city for a business park for the relocation
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<br />process, The Economic Development Administration granted $697,000 to install the utilities and a lift
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<br />station. The owner donated $100,000 of the purchase price to our library, $50,000 toward our new
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<br />ambulance, and $5,000 to our fire department The remaining $175,000 was used as local match for
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<br />grants, Four properties have been acquired and cleared, the papers have been signed for another four,
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<br />four properties are under contamination remediation, and we will be short of funding for tvvo proper-
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<br />ties, Again, funding will be sought to complete the work.
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<br />Contamination has been the major problem and we are now waiting for the final results of testing,
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<br />determining type and extent It has been determined that the properties are PECFA eligible. The
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<br />Department of Development furnished the $69,000 deductible for testing so if all goes well we should
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<br />be able to soon acquire and relocate before another flood. The city assumed the role of agent for the
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<br />affected businesses. It is our desire to relocate the businesses, do contamination remediation, then
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<br />Success Stories 4
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