A large number of people met with the supervisors in the Manchester Fire Department meeting room to hear comments and voice concern about the damage caused by the flood at Lake Delhi on July 24.
Willey told the board that he understood it is up to the supervisors to determine what can be rebuilt and he asked for a special meeting with the supervisors and anyone who needs help.
Board Chair Jeff Madlom told the audience the supervisors would set up a work session to appoint a committee and actively pursue participation in the national flood insurance plan.
Don Moriarty told the supervisors that there are 30 homes in his neighborhood and 20 of them were damaged by the flood. Ron Thompson asked where people could dispose of their damaged material. Madlom said the material could be taken to the county landfill and it would be transferred to the Dubuque landfill later. Madlom said the county hopes to have the road to the landfill open by July 27, and Supervisor Jerry Ries said it would be open by July 28 for sure. Willey added that LDRA is working on getting the materials hauled away and he urged people to separate their materials. Appliances, electrical items, paint, carpet and wood materials should be separated into different piles. Madlom urged, "Don't deposit anything in a county ditch."
Willey said LDRA is looking for volunteers to help remove flood damaged materials and anyone who would like to volunteer their time, or equipment, is asked to call Barb DeKoltz at 922-2058 or 319-210-9378. He also said that people should document the hours of any of the volunteers who help and keep a record of their time in the event they are able to claim their damages.
Willey gave a short description of what happened at the site of the dam on July 24. After the damage caused in the 2008 flood, work was being done to repair the dam. "We were in the process of repairing the dam when the flood came again. We had two floodgates open and did everything we could. Everything possible to be done was done," he said. He added that when the dam was built in 1927, there was a lot more open land to soak up water than there is now. With all of the buildings and paving, the water isn't absorbed back into the land. "Things are different with drainage now and the water comes from a much higher authority than us."
Contrary to media reports, the dam did not fail and it is still in place. What failed was the levee next to the dam. Ries said the supervisors were there and watched water rushing over the dam and the road and watched as the road slipped away and then the levy under the road washed away. He said they estimate about 300 feet of the roadway washed away allowing the water to escape from the lake.
Following the discussion about Lake Delhi, the supervisors continued with their regular meeting. The board approved a local disaster declaration to declare a state of emergency, effective July 23, 2010.
Anthony Bardgett, Delaware County engineer, reported that there were four areas that are completely closed due to severe damage. All other areas are at least brought up to passable conditions. He said the Secondary Road Department would continue to improve those areas this week. Both excavators will travel the county this week to recover rock that was lost in ditches.
Bardgett said, "I commend our staff for their hard work this weekend on getting the county back in shape. I also want to thank all the emergency services that helped us through the weekend. Volunteer fire services helped us watch closed roads and cleaned off muddy bridge decks."