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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEMAIL FROM NOEL ANDERSON Page 1 of 2 INANCY ECKERT From: NOEL ANDERSON Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:03 AM To: COUNCIL MEMBERS Cc: NANCY ECKERT; MAYOR HURLEY Subject: FW: Power Plant Annexation All -this has been forwarded to you at the Mayor's request. From: NOEL ANDERSON Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 10:55 AM To: MAYOR HURLEY; ARIC SCHROEDER; TIM SHEA; ERIC THORSON Cc: JAMIE KNUTSON Subject: RE: Power Plant Annexation Mayor- There were two flooding occurrences in 1999 (May and July). These were uncommon occurrences and we had FEMA representatives here with city staff for some of the damaged areas. So she is right, it was a disaster event and is not a common event. Noel Anderson Community Planning & Development Director & Economic Development Director City of Waterloo Community Planning & Development Dept. City Hall, 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703 Ph: 319.291.4366 Fax: 319.291.4262 "Can't fail is arrogance. Won't fail is confidence."-Lord John Roxton From: MAYOR HURLEY Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 9:37 AM To: NOEL ANDERSON; ARIC SCHROEDER; TIM SHEA; ERIC THORSON Subject: FW: Power Plant Annexation fyi . . . From: Steve Schmitt [mailto:sschmitt©schmitthouse.com] Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:28 AM To: HAROLD GETTY; BOB GREENWOOD; CAROLYN COLE; QUENTIN HART; REGINALD SCHMITT Cc: MAYOR HURLEY; NANCY ECKERT; JIM WALSH 4/24/2008 Page 2 of 2 Subject: Fw: Power Plant Annexation I received the below from one of the property owners near the proposed LS Power plant. Mr. Walsh said it is appropriate for me to follow Mr. Miller's request and forward on to you. I will hardcopy Mr. Welber. thanks Steve Original Message From: Doug@DebMiller To: Steve Schmitt Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 3:16 PM Subject: Power Plant Annexation Hi Steve, I'm writing you (again) in regards to the upcoming annexation/rezoning for the power plant. I have tried to remain neutral on this project, but my mother brought to my attention some things that were said at last nights council meeting. I did not see the meeting, but mom always watches on her cable station. All I'm going by is what mom told me. Apparently, someone was there representing Phyllis Morgan, our neighbor to the west and on the other side of Elk Run Creek. Mom was upset because our land was referred to as some kind of flood plain that should never be built on. As I mentioned in my previous letter to the council, our home and farm have been in the family for over 100yrs. I have enclosed some documents that you have probably seen before that show the 100 and 500 year floodplains on either side of the creek. As you can see, the flood plain that lies on either side of the creek is of no danger to our home or the farm or Mr. Bell's property. The biggest rain event this area ever experienced was in July of 1999. Although Waterloo records may not show it, there was a line of heavy rain between Dunkerton and Dewar on the night of July 2,1999. I was personally an eye witness to this event because Deb and I were up all night. Between approximately 11pm and 1 am this area received 8-9 inches of rain on ground that was already saturated due to a wet spring, much like we are experiencing this year. The town of Dewar was badly flooded with many homes receiving damage. My uncle, Dennis Miller owns Miller Mechanical Contractors, which is located next to the creek in Dewar. He had told me he had 9 inches in his gauge and his building was a mess. As Ms. Morgan mentioned at the p&z meeting, when she woke up the next morning, her basement was full and she ended up losing the home. Although we did have water in our basement, it was cleaned up the next day and we had no damage. Fortunately, we sit that much higher than Phyllis so we did not have the problem she did. In fact, the only reason we ended up with water in the basement was because the water had found it's way through on old basement entry and then came in under the floor. Again, there was no damage to our home and there was also no damage to crops on the farm. This was truly a flash flood. The creek was back down by 3am. We have seen this week in Waterloo what just 2in. of rain can do in areas that are already saturated. The fact that this area in question for annexation was able to withstand that kind of rain event certainly should show it is not an area prone to flooding. I can not remember crops here ever being damaged due to flooding. Of course the area of the Bell farm sits much higher than we do and has never been flooded. I don't think Ms. Morgan believes that what happened in 1999 will likely happen again, as she built her new home in the same location. Bottom line, any area that receives that much rain is going to have a problem. That doesn't make it a floodplain and if anything, I feel that storm showed that this area can even take an extreme event and still be a safe area for L.S. to build it's plant. L.S. has been aware that the drainage can be improved and I believe have included plans to improve the area pertaining to water drainage. This should be a benefit to anyone living along the creek here and downstream. I'm just sending this to you Steve, but feel free to share it with the other council members. I just want to add that we have found the representatives of L.S. that we have dealt with have integrity and honesty. We have met with two different project managers and some of the environmental engineers. Unfortunately, many of the opposition members have developed a real hate for this project and the people involved, and are willing to say just about anything if they feel it will sway the council's vote. Good luck on the 28th! Regards, Doug 4/24/2008