The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON-If the Flood Control Zone District is approved by the voters on Nov. 5, County Engineer Charles Eaton will be its administrator.

Eaton has released the following statement:

"Since 1964, Columbia County has been declared a federal disaster area six times due to flooding. The flood of 1996 caused over $30 million in private and public damages. A flood of this severity today would take a serious toll on general fund budgets, even with the FEMA, Federal Highways Administration, and Army Corps of Engineers cost sharing programs. Flooding affects all the citizens in the county by: · Destroying and damaging homes and businesses, · Disrupting government services, · Damaging transportation routes and bridges, · Stranding residents, · Contaminating water supplies, · Causing septic system failures, · Damaging infrastructure such as wastewater treatment plants, drinking water pipelines, power lines, ditches, culverts, bridges and other utilities."

"With a funded FCZD, funds would be available to assist with flood response and recovery costs for any event. While a flood may have costs greater than the FCZD reserves, the district would facilitate coordination of county and cities, and provide an opportunity for them to work together and provide each other assistance with financial documentation, project costs, labor and equipment, and all other aspects of flood response and recovery. In addition, the County can maintain and repair the levee system with the cities in a coordinated effort using district funding and labor and equipment through an agreement."

"With a dedicated funding source, the levees can receive consistent and prescribed maintenance. Consistent maintenance ensures the levees remain in good condition and may prevent levee failures, such as when the levee was breached during the flood of 1996."

"The proposal before the voters is a $0.10 assessment per $1000 assessed value, which will raise approximately $100,000 annually for FCZD activities. This amount was calculated to meet the bare minimum maintenance requirements while providing some funds for identified improvements."

"Additional funds will be sought out through grants and agreements in cooperation with other government agencies and private entities. This proposal will not cause any currently funded district to lose funding. Without the dedicated funding that would be authorized by the voters, the County will not be able to fully address currently-existing issues within the FCZD, nor respond to emergency events."