Changes to Area "D"
Old Larger Map
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Flood Maps Revised
Ron Williams has reworked the flood maps to include more properties into the area "D". He made these changes based on what other communities in the area are doing as well. Please note that nothing was revised in the other areas of the older larger map. Good work Ron.
Changes to Area "D"
Old Larger Map
Changes to Area "D"
Old Larger Map
Committee Meetings 9-14-09
I had these written up and done but for some reason I never added them to the active posts on the blog here. Sorry for the delay. I thought these were posted last week.
Alderman Rowe was not in attendance at these committee meetings. Alderman Ebersohl arrived about ten minutes late.
Ambulance, Radio Communication & Dispatch
• Monroe County Interoperable Communications Committee Meeting of 08/25/09 Presentation & Discussion
This meeting was fairly technical in a subject I am not too familiar with so bear with me and feel free to correct me as always if I make a mistake.
The FCC will require all emergency personnel and districts to have a narrowband radio system in place by January 1, 2013. Columbia has begun installing and purchasing radios that will meet these specifications so they will be ready for the deadline. Narrowband radio is shorter range than other systems. This system also allows for only communication between two people at any one time. Columbia has one frequency to use under this system.
The regional counties in both Illinois and Missouri as a whole have begun making a shift towards an 800 MHz digital system. Monroe County is moving towards adopting this system and is looking for all communities to join in the effort as a collective to apply for grants. The system for the county will cost between $1.5-1.6 million and could cost Columbia upwards of $35,000 a year in maintenance and “subscription fees”.
This system allows for “trunking” which gives personal a ~97% chance of getting through when they need to. If I understand correctly the digital system will allow for departments to set up frequencies for special units on an as-needed basis. It’s a much longer range system with better reception and will keep Monroe County and Columbia in contact with other cities especially in instances where other cities interact on calls in the rural or in major emergencies.
The committee voted to join in the coalition the county is forming to acquire this system.
I do not fully understand the systems as I stated before but I have to wonder what Columbia can and will do with equipment we have begun to purchase that may no longer be needed. What’s Columbia’s plan if this coalition does not acquire funding, do we pursue narrow band or try to go 800 MHz digital on our own?
License, Insurance, CEMA and Contracts & Finance, Claims , Bonds, and Interest (Joint Committee Meeting)
• Balance Due on Bottom Avenue Project
Illinois has realized Columbia owes them ~$37,000 for the Bottom Avenue project a few years ago. It was part of an agreement that Illinois paid the contractors and then Columbia would reimburse Illinois. Ron Williams dug through the files and we do in fact owe this money. If we had known we owed the money when the budget was created for this year it would have been put into the budget. It was decided that the city will need to pay this bill by altering the current budget and using money out of the Capitol Development Fund which has a projected year end balance at this time of $866,000.
• Cable TV Franchise Update, Review & Discussion
The city will work towards new franchise agreements with both Charter Communications and HTC. These agreements will mirror as close as possible the expiring agreement with Charter Communications.
Municipal Buildings, Property and Capital Improvements
• Miller-Fiege Home Security System Bid Review & Discussion
The city will get a security system installed in this historic home that includes four wireless smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Miller-Fiege Home Update
The electrical panel needs to be upgraded from a 100amp service to a 200amp service. $500 will be spent to upgrade this and some lighting around the home.
Streets Sidewalks, Drainage, and Public Utilities
•Detour Traffic Discussion
Traffic on Breidecker has picked up since it was made a through street due to the Cherry Street construction. The city will install some “Slow Signs”. No speed bumps will be installed. Chief Edwards said he sat there for two and a half hours, he made three stops, one speeding and two for rolling a stop sign. All three drivers were issued warnings. Everyone suspects that people are not speeding but the increased volume makes it seem so to residents. Chief noted that the department does not have the resources to post someone there.
Personnel
•Pre-Employment Screening
It was discussed to have pre employment screening with St. Elizabeth’s for all people hired by the city. Pricing examples given were as follows. $776.85 for a firefighter or $746.85 for law enforcement hires. The results of tests would not be known to the city but the doctor would give the city a pass/fail result based on criteria and job descriptions the city would provide.
•Collective Bargaining
Executive Session.
Alderman Rowe was not in attendance at these committee meetings. Alderman Ebersohl arrived about ten minutes late.
Ambulance, Radio Communication & Dispatch
• Monroe County Interoperable Communications Committee Meeting of 08/25/09 Presentation & Discussion
This meeting was fairly technical in a subject I am not too familiar with so bear with me and feel free to correct me as always if I make a mistake.
The FCC will require all emergency personnel and districts to have a narrowband radio system in place by January 1, 2013. Columbia has begun installing and purchasing radios that will meet these specifications so they will be ready for the deadline. Narrowband radio is shorter range than other systems. This system also allows for only communication between two people at any one time. Columbia has one frequency to use under this system.
The regional counties in both Illinois and Missouri as a whole have begun making a shift towards an 800 MHz digital system. Monroe County is moving towards adopting this system and is looking for all communities to join in the effort as a collective to apply for grants. The system for the county will cost between $1.5-1.6 million and could cost Columbia upwards of $35,000 a year in maintenance and “subscription fees”.
This system allows for “trunking” which gives personal a ~97% chance of getting through when they need to. If I understand correctly the digital system will allow for departments to set up frequencies for special units on an as-needed basis. It’s a much longer range system with better reception and will keep Monroe County and Columbia in contact with other cities especially in instances where other cities interact on calls in the rural or in major emergencies.
The committee voted to join in the coalition the county is forming to acquire this system.
I do not fully understand the systems as I stated before but I have to wonder what Columbia can and will do with equipment we have begun to purchase that may no longer be needed. What’s Columbia’s plan if this coalition does not acquire funding, do we pursue narrow band or try to go 800 MHz digital on our own?
License, Insurance, CEMA and Contracts & Finance, Claims , Bonds, and Interest (Joint Committee Meeting)
• Balance Due on Bottom Avenue Project
Illinois has realized Columbia owes them ~$37,000 for the Bottom Avenue project a few years ago. It was part of an agreement that Illinois paid the contractors and then Columbia would reimburse Illinois. Ron Williams dug through the files and we do in fact owe this money. If we had known we owed the money when the budget was created for this year it would have been put into the budget. It was decided that the city will need to pay this bill by altering the current budget and using money out of the Capitol Development Fund which has a projected year end balance at this time of $866,000.
• Cable TV Franchise Update, Review & Discussion
The city will work towards new franchise agreements with both Charter Communications and HTC. These agreements will mirror as close as possible the expiring agreement with Charter Communications.
Municipal Buildings, Property and Capital Improvements
• Miller-Fiege Home Security System Bid Review & Discussion
The city will get a security system installed in this historic home that includes four wireless smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Miller-Fiege Home Update
The electrical panel needs to be upgraded from a 100amp service to a 200amp service. $500 will be spent to upgrade this and some lighting around the home.
Streets Sidewalks, Drainage, and Public Utilities
•Detour Traffic Discussion
Traffic on Breidecker has picked up since it was made a through street due to the Cherry Street construction. The city will install some “Slow Signs”. No speed bumps will be installed. Chief Edwards said he sat there for two and a half hours, he made three stops, one speeding and two for rolling a stop sign. All three drivers were issued warnings. Everyone suspects that people are not speeding but the increased volume makes it seem so to residents. Chief noted that the department does not have the resources to post someone there.
Personnel
•Pre-Employment Screening
It was discussed to have pre employment screening with St. Elizabeth’s for all people hired by the city. Pricing examples given were as follows. $776.85 for a firefighter or $746.85 for law enforcement hires. The results of tests would not be known to the city but the doctor would give the city a pass/fail result based on criteria and job descriptions the city would provide.
•Collective Bargaining
Executive Session.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Council Meeting 9-8-09 - Tuesday
Should be an interesting meeting.
Couple of surprises in the agenda.
I don't know if this is a yearly levy but 2% for the library is on the agenda...if it's not a yearly levy I would assume this would be for repairing the library roof. I wonder what 2% equals. Never saw this discussed in committee.
Passing a resolution to support Representative Costello's bill to suspend the new flood insurance rate maps.
It appears that bids were taken for the air conditioner and ducts on the police station roof. I thought the ducts were going to repaired ASAP, wonder if we bought a new air conditioner as well.
Updates later this week, video of parts I find interesting or that people request.
Couple of surprises in the agenda.
I don't know if this is a yearly levy but 2% for the library is on the agenda...if it's not a yearly levy I would assume this would be for repairing the library roof. I wonder what 2% equals. Never saw this discussed in committee.
Passing a resolution to support Representative Costello's bill to suspend the new flood insurance rate maps.
It appears that bids were taken for the air conditioner and ducts on the police station roof. I thought the ducts were going to repaired ASAP, wonder if we bought a new air conditioner as well.
Updates later this week, video of parts I find interesting or that people request.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Brace Yourself it's a Long Read - The Levee Issue
The levee issue is still something I am looking into as it will affect not only current property owners in the bottoms but also affect any future development that Columbia hopes to have in that area. Columbia issues alone should spark your interest in the matter but this is more importantly an issue that matters to the entire region and not just to the citizens of Columbia or even Monroe County.
I am no expert on the topic but am doing my best to figure out the situation so if I misstate something then by all means please drop me an email and let me know. If you have something else to add to the topic please add a comment or email me.
It appears that US Army Corps of Engineers has declared the levees to be inadequate in their present state. Alongside this desertification FEMA began drawing new maps that would classify the American Bottoms area to be a special flood hazard area. This classification would cause people to buy costly flood insurance while any new construction in the area would have to meet construction requirements including new elevated foundations.
As I see it…..
One path is that no action is taken to repair or fix the levees and FEMA requires everyone in the American Bottoms area to purchase flood insurance and new elevation requirements will be made to any new construction. This insurance is rather costly.
Another option is the path that the local government bodies have started going down. The counties have declared themselves an AR or Restoration Zone dedicated to repairing the levees to meet the 100 year flood requirements set forth by the Corps of Engineers. To show their dedication to the effort the three county region has enacted a sales tax to raise money for the repair of the levies. It was thought that the federal government would pick up 65% of the project cost and money raised from the local sales taxes would make up the remaining 35%.
The federal government has since said they can not guarantee any money to the project which is estimated to have costs that could reach as much as $400 million.
As you can see this area is much more than just Columbia or Monroe County. This will not just be an issue for a few select businesses or residents living down by the river but rather whole cities that have been in place for decades. According to the East West Gateway website 150,000 people live in the American Bottoms and the area is home to more than 50,000 jobs. This fact alone makes it more than an issue that should concern future development. It’s an issue to the many people already living and working there.
The first of the three maps above shows what the river looked like in 1991 and the second and third maps show what the river looked like during the flood of 1993. It is important to go back to the levee map above provided by East West Gateway and compare the floods reach in 1993. If I am understanding the situation correctly the area of people that would be required to buy flood insurance is far greater than those who lost property in the flood of 1993. These are people who do not or have not ever considered their homes in danger in the case of a flood. Most people consider 1993 a worse case scenario, if there is anything mother nature has proven to us over the years it’s that things can always get worse.
I think there could be a few possible solutions to raise the money for the levee repair which I will discuss but I do believe that it must first be stated why I believe the levies should be repaired.
If we do not repair the levies and homeowners and business are forced to pay for flood insurance then some will pack up and leave the American Bottoms, creating the question of what the communities in question will do if their populations dwindle and key businesses pack up and leave town. Even if insurance is bought by everyone and the levies are not fixed what happens when the next flood does come? Unless these insurance plans force relocation to higher ground then we as taxpayers will still be paying through federal government tax money to have these areas cleaned up and rehabilitated much like we did in Katrina. These people will still need financial assistance other than simple home insurance when a flood does occur.
Another scenario could be that everyone simply moves out of the American Bottoms. Who pays people and businesses for their now useless buildings? Who goes in to police this area? Who pays for all of these current buildings to be destroyed as to not become a refuge of crime? I can assure you that completely abandoning the American Bottoms logistically will cost more than $400 million. Then if you add that these people will have to relocate elsewhere and that many businesses will possibly relocate out of the region entirely. Both of which will affect the people currently living above the bluff. This entire scenario is hardly an option.
The costs associated with not improving the levees seem to me at least to outweigh the costs that will be incurred by improving them.
Raising the Money
Possible solutions to raise the money will not make everyone happy. The money should be raised across the region and not just by the people that will suffer directly from higher insurance rates as the fate of the American Bottoms will affect the economy of the entire region.
According to the 2000 census there are approximately 209,000 households in the three counties involved in this issue. If each household was required to pay $400 over the next 10 years that would raise $83.6 million for the project. If those households pay $100 each year for 10 years it would raise $209 million. I would also suggest that these numbers for households are low as our region has grown since 2000.
Another way to raise money for the project would be to charge a fee for all new developments and new houses built in the American Bottoms. This would force people and developers to realize their choice has consequences, this money must go to a levee fund. A 1% fee on total building costs associated with any new project could raise substantial capitol for such a levee fund.
Another possible source of money would be the federal government. I hate most government spending. Everyone hates to hear about bridges going no where any other program serving a small number of people or research of a topic that is better left alone.
This project though is not for a select few or serving only hundreds of people or even thousands of people. Remember the numbers from up above “150,000 people live in the American Bottoms and the area is home to more than 50,000 jobs”. Take into account the businesses in the affected area and how their possible demise will affect the regions economy and the greater national economy. There are a great number of distribution and manufacturing facilities in the area that provide for a greater audience than just the metro east region.
I often find it absurd when people say “well the federal government has spent money on sillier things” or “well they will spend the money somewhere, why not here?” when talking about justifying any federal money that helps their cause. I would be impressed if the local communities and governments can find a way to fund this entire project. I just don’t think that is possible but our region could possibly set a new standard for a region addressing their own needs and not asking the federal government for handouts on our public projects.
I do however think it is possible for our three county coalition to fund 65% of the total costs and maybe ask the federal government for 35% of the funding. If we as a region could propose a plan such as that who could say no and our region could again possibly set a new standard for federal government funding. If a true cost for the project can be determined maybe we can fund the entire project but the truth is that no one can provide a true estimate for the costs to determine what type of money needs to be collected.
The Columbia Perspective
I must say that we as Columbians tend to focus on what is going on in our city only. Our town is kind of in its only area. Other cities in the metro-east meld together we do not experience in Monroe County. Columbia has visible borders to town. The Edwardsville-Glen Carbon-Maryville or Belleville-Fairview Heights-O’Fallon conglomerates meld together. Columbia has empty space all around it. We tend to want to protect this empty space. But this empty space does not separate us from the issues facing our region.
I sense that one main reason for this levee issue not being very popular and being talked poorly about is that not fixing the levee could assist in possibly preventing a development in the bottoms, as a developer may be less inclined to develop right behind a poor levee system. I would ask you if you as a person try to prevent development in the bottoms then where would you like it to go? Would you prefer that a developer create a complex up Cherry Street or right off Route 3 South of town?
Development of that kind will eventually find Columbia. Controlling that development and dictating where it goes is up to us as a city. I would prefer it be in the bottoms almost separated from town, in an area that would keep most visiting traffic to that development from ever really entering what many consider the city of Columbia. Most importantly if you think stopping the levees from being repaired is a good way to stop development in Columbia take a moment and reflect on the rest of the region and what’s good for it before forming a biased opinion.
Opposing Viewpoints
I must note that there is a seemingly local to Columbia website showing mainly reasons why we should not repair the levees or spend federal money on them. I seem to have luck finding websites that have plenty of information but no way to contact the people running the website (remember the mystery election website from this past April). I am troubled by the fact that there is supposedly an entire group of people behind this website yet not one person has been listed as a contact for answering questions or as someone to contact to send information to.
I feel it important to mention again how important it is for people to know where information is coming from when they use it to form opinions. Everyone who reads this site has a way to contact me and challenge me on anything I say, its how good conversations that lead to solutions get started, I only wish more would openly voice their opinions. I do however appreciate them(whoever they are) for linking to my blog as it now provides one linked source on that web page that offers people information on what good levies do and how they benefit the region.
Again if you think I miss-stated something send me an email or post a comment to this write up.
I am no expert on the topic but am doing my best to figure out the situation so if I misstate something then by all means please drop me an email and let me know. If you have something else to add to the topic please add a comment or email me.
It appears that US Army Corps of Engineers has declared the levees to be inadequate in their present state. Alongside this desertification FEMA began drawing new maps that would classify the American Bottoms area to be a special flood hazard area. This classification would cause people to buy costly flood insurance while any new construction in the area would have to meet construction requirements including new elevated foundations.
As I see it…..
One path is that no action is taken to repair or fix the levees and FEMA requires everyone in the American Bottoms area to purchase flood insurance and new elevation requirements will be made to any new construction. This insurance is rather costly.
Another option is the path that the local government bodies have started going down. The counties have declared themselves an AR or Restoration Zone dedicated to repairing the levees to meet the 100 year flood requirements set forth by the Corps of Engineers. To show their dedication to the effort the three county region has enacted a sales tax to raise money for the repair of the levies. It was thought that the federal government would pick up 65% of the project cost and money raised from the local sales taxes would make up the remaining 35%.
The federal government has since said they can not guarantee any money to the project which is estimated to have costs that could reach as much as $400 million.
As you can see this area is much more than just Columbia or Monroe County. This will not just be an issue for a few select businesses or residents living down by the river but rather whole cities that have been in place for decades. According to the East West Gateway website 150,000 people live in the American Bottoms and the area is home to more than 50,000 jobs. This fact alone makes it more than an issue that should concern future development. It’s an issue to the many people already living and working there.
The first of the three maps above shows what the river looked like in 1991 and the second and third maps show what the river looked like during the flood of 1993. It is important to go back to the levee map above provided by East West Gateway and compare the floods reach in 1993. If I am understanding the situation correctly the area of people that would be required to buy flood insurance is far greater than those who lost property in the flood of 1993. These are people who do not or have not ever considered their homes in danger in the case of a flood. Most people consider 1993 a worse case scenario, if there is anything mother nature has proven to us over the years it’s that things can always get worse.
I think there could be a few possible solutions to raise the money for the levee repair which I will discuss but I do believe that it must first be stated why I believe the levies should be repaired.
If we do not repair the levies and homeowners and business are forced to pay for flood insurance then some will pack up and leave the American Bottoms, creating the question of what the communities in question will do if their populations dwindle and key businesses pack up and leave town. Even if insurance is bought by everyone and the levies are not fixed what happens when the next flood does come? Unless these insurance plans force relocation to higher ground then we as taxpayers will still be paying through federal government tax money to have these areas cleaned up and rehabilitated much like we did in Katrina. These people will still need financial assistance other than simple home insurance when a flood does occur.
Another scenario could be that everyone simply moves out of the American Bottoms. Who pays people and businesses for their now useless buildings? Who goes in to police this area? Who pays for all of these current buildings to be destroyed as to not become a refuge of crime? I can assure you that completely abandoning the American Bottoms logistically will cost more than $400 million. Then if you add that these people will have to relocate elsewhere and that many businesses will possibly relocate out of the region entirely. Both of which will affect the people currently living above the bluff. This entire scenario is hardly an option.
The costs associated with not improving the levees seem to me at least to outweigh the costs that will be incurred by improving them.
Raising the Money
Possible solutions to raise the money will not make everyone happy. The money should be raised across the region and not just by the people that will suffer directly from higher insurance rates as the fate of the American Bottoms will affect the economy of the entire region.
According to the 2000 census there are approximately 209,000 households in the three counties involved in this issue. If each household was required to pay $400 over the next 10 years that would raise $83.6 million for the project. If those households pay $100 each year for 10 years it would raise $209 million. I would also suggest that these numbers for households are low as our region has grown since 2000.
Another way to raise money for the project would be to charge a fee for all new developments and new houses built in the American Bottoms. This would force people and developers to realize their choice has consequences, this money must go to a levee fund. A 1% fee on total building costs associated with any new project could raise substantial capitol for such a levee fund.
Another possible source of money would be the federal government. I hate most government spending. Everyone hates to hear about bridges going no where any other program serving a small number of people or research of a topic that is better left alone.
This project though is not for a select few or serving only hundreds of people or even thousands of people. Remember the numbers from up above “150,000 people live in the American Bottoms and the area is home to more than 50,000 jobs”. Take into account the businesses in the affected area and how their possible demise will affect the regions economy and the greater national economy. There are a great number of distribution and manufacturing facilities in the area that provide for a greater audience than just the metro east region.
I often find it absurd when people say “well the federal government has spent money on sillier things” or “well they will spend the money somewhere, why not here?” when talking about justifying any federal money that helps their cause. I would be impressed if the local communities and governments can find a way to fund this entire project. I just don’t think that is possible but our region could possibly set a new standard for a region addressing their own needs and not asking the federal government for handouts on our public projects.
I do however think it is possible for our three county coalition to fund 65% of the total costs and maybe ask the federal government for 35% of the funding. If we as a region could propose a plan such as that who could say no and our region could again possibly set a new standard for federal government funding. If a true cost for the project can be determined maybe we can fund the entire project but the truth is that no one can provide a true estimate for the costs to determine what type of money needs to be collected.
The Columbia Perspective
I must say that we as Columbians tend to focus on what is going on in our city only. Our town is kind of in its only area. Other cities in the metro-east meld together we do not experience in Monroe County. Columbia has visible borders to town. The Edwardsville-Glen Carbon-Maryville or Belleville-Fairview Heights-O’Fallon conglomerates meld together. Columbia has empty space all around it. We tend to want to protect this empty space. But this empty space does not separate us from the issues facing our region.
I sense that one main reason for this levee issue not being very popular and being talked poorly about is that not fixing the levee could assist in possibly preventing a development in the bottoms, as a developer may be less inclined to develop right behind a poor levee system. I would ask you if you as a person try to prevent development in the bottoms then where would you like it to go? Would you prefer that a developer create a complex up Cherry Street or right off Route 3 South of town?
Development of that kind will eventually find Columbia. Controlling that development and dictating where it goes is up to us as a city. I would prefer it be in the bottoms almost separated from town, in an area that would keep most visiting traffic to that development from ever really entering what many consider the city of Columbia. Most importantly if you think stopping the levees from being repaired is a good way to stop development in Columbia take a moment and reflect on the rest of the region and what’s good for it before forming a biased opinion.
Opposing Viewpoints
I must note that there is a seemingly local to Columbia website showing mainly reasons why we should not repair the levees or spend federal money on them. I seem to have luck finding websites that have plenty of information but no way to contact the people running the website (remember the mystery election website from this past April). I am troubled by the fact that there is supposedly an entire group of people behind this website yet not one person has been listed as a contact for answering questions or as someone to contact to send information to.
I feel it important to mention again how important it is for people to know where information is coming from when they use it to form opinions. Everyone who reads this site has a way to contact me and challenge me on anything I say, its how good conversations that lead to solutions get started, I only wish more would openly voice their opinions. I do however appreciate them(whoever they are) for linking to my blog as it now provides one linked source on that web page that offers people information on what good levies do and how they benefit the region.
Again if you think I miss-stated something send me an email or post a comment to this write up.