The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, September 12, 2019. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved.
Monthly sales tax reports were reviewed.
Clerk Taylor presented the bids for pasture rent. The commissioners voted to accept the highest bid from Chad Ottmann to rent the pasture ground October 1, 2019 – October 1, 2022.
The commissioners and Clerk Taylor met Emergency Management Director Rhonda Wiley, Assistant Director Mark Manchester, and Atchison County Levee Board members Jason Garst and Ryan Ottmann. They toured flood damage with Joe Hegeman from Congressman Sam Graves’ office, Elizabeth Johnson from Senator Josh Hawley’s office, and Brandt Shields from Senator Roy Blunt’s office. An airboat ride provided by the contractors working on levee repairs gave them a great view of the breaks and damage to farmland. They were also shown Highway 136, rural roads, homes and Gavilon. A lot of information was shared to be taken back to their respective offices.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
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The Commission met Tuesday, September 17, 2019. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed and approved.
Clerk Taylor presented a new lease to replace the existing lease between Atchison County and Midwest Mobile Radio Service, Inc. This lease is for the existing communications tower located just west of the 911 Dispatch Center on county property. This tower provides space for Atchison County 911 Dispatch, Atchison County Highway, Atchison County Sheriff, Midwest Mobile, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The current lease is not due to expire until March 31, 2021, but they cannot execute a new lease with the Missouri Highway Patrol without extending the land lease.
All terms and conditions remain the same, except the term, which will be January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2040.
The commissioners voted to approve and replace the existing lease with Midwest Mobile.
Emergency Management Director Wiley was in to report on department matters.
The Commission and Clerk Taylor reviewed the minutes from the Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group (FRAWG) meeting and discussed plans to attend the next meeting in Jefferson City on Friday, September 20 to make sure the voice of Atchison County is heard. In addition they will invite the group to hold a meeting in Atchison County. Information was shared with Holt County representatives, who also plan to attend the next meeting.
FRAWG Meeting
Minutes
Aug. 27, 2019
The Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group met August 27, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Lewis and Clark State Office Building LaCharrette Conference Room.
Carol Comer, Director of the Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), introduced Governor Michael Parson, who welcomed those present. He discussed the following:
* Discussed impact of the flood, with an estimate of 1.2 million acres flooded with approximately 1.4 million acres in prevented planting claims.
* Recognized the collaboration among stakeholders, especially between MoDNR and the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA).
* Introduced the scope of the working group including prioritizing funding for levee repairs and developing recommendations for planning for future flooding.
* An initial report is due by end of December 2019, and a final report will be completed by May 2020.
Director Comer invited working group members and presenters to introduce themselves: Kayla Hahn, Policy Director for the Governor’s Office; Dru Buntin, Deputy Director of MoDNR; Chris Klenklen, Deputy Director of MDA; Chris Chinn, Director of MDA; John Osterhage, Chief of Emergency Management for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District; Col. Steven Sattinger, Commander of USACE Rock Island District; Col. John Hudson, Commander USACE Omaha District; Col. William Hannan, Jr., Commander USACE Kansas City District; John Huss, Federal Coordinating Officer for declared disasters in Missouri for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Brent Hampy, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA); J.R. Flores, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Collin Olsen, USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA); Ron Walker, Director of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); Luke Holtschneider, Deputy Director of Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED); Chris Engelbrecht, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT); Bill Jackson, Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association; Lucy Fletcher, AgriServices of Brunswick; Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau Federation; David Shorr, Coalition to Protect the Missouri River; Gary Marshall, Missouri Corn Growers Association; Ryan Gill, Missouri Soybean Growers Association; Henry Dienst, Clark County Commission; Randy Railsback, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission; Adam Jones, Mississippi River farmer; Roger Hugenberg, Ursa Farmers Co-Op; and Dru Buntin, MoDNR.
Invited presentations from resources agencies on flood recovery:
Federal
Recovery
Efforts
(USACE, FEMA, USDA)
USACE Kansas City District, Col. Hannan, Jr. – updated the group on the emergency measures for the Mill Creek and Big Tarkio levee breaches. They are currently hauling rock to the Big Tarkio and are building a road to access Mill Creek. Discussed rehabilitation efforts. KC District has received 106 requests for assistance and have conducted 55 assessments thus far. Twenty-three Project Information Reports (PIR) are approved, thus work with levee districts can now begin. Made clear KC District’s goal is to work with and support Missouri and its citizens, and that the district wants to help levee districts as they recover.
USACE Omaha District Col. Hudson – Atchison County is the only Missouri county in the Omaha District. Atchison has a total of four levee districts. Omaha will have to work through summer and maybe fall of 2020 to get levees completely repaired. USACE is looking to be releasing 70,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Gavins Point through October and into November.
Dru Buntin, MoDNR – discussed a levee district in Atchison County considering a levee setback.
USACE St. Louis District, John Osterhage – 12 requests for assistance with a lot of work to be done in Illinois. Estimated total repair cost in Missouri is $18.6 million. Looking at next year to get repairs completed.
USACE Rock Island District, Col. Sattinger – Funding is available for levee rehabilitation. Roger Hugenberg, URSA Farmers Co-op, asked about the lack of funding available for dredging. Col. Sattinger explained there are two different “pots” of money for levee rehab and for dredging. Col. Sattinger discussed how they will be moving as quickly as possible and are trying to be mindful of the March 15 cutoff date for crop insurance; all other USACE Districts expressed agreement.
Col. Hannan, Jr., USACE KC, commented that funding will be an issue for KC District and that they will need supplemental money.
Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau, expressed his appreciation for USACE being mindful of the crop insurance cutoff date and explained his understanding that a farmer must have at least 25 year protection to obtain crop insurance.
John Huss, FEMA – Discussed Disaster Declaration 4451. Explained how FEMA has already distributed $6 million in Individual Assistance. Clarified for the group that public assistance is conducted on a cost-share basis with up to 75% cost share.
Brent Hampy, USDA FSA – The Emergency Conservation Program is the most widely used program for farmers impacted by flooding and is used for debris cleanup, scour rehabilitation, etc. FSA does not have the ability to help with levee rehabilitation. At this time, no details yet on money for damaged stored grain.
USDA NCRS, J.R. Flores – Discussed the Emergency Watershed Protection program and the September 3 deadline to sign up. EWP helps with non-Corps levees and where FEMA dollars cannot be used. Described one project at Fortescue in Holt County.
USDA RMA, Collin Olson – Explained how crop insurance premiums are determined on a 20 year average. “Rate reflects risk.” This is the adage Collin used when Blake Hurst, Missouri Farm Bureau, asked him about unrepaired levees. If the level of levee protection is not rehabilitated by March 15 then the farmer will see an increase in crop insurance premiums. Collin explained that if any partial levee repairs are done then that will be taken into consideration when determining the rate on a case by basis.
Blake Hurst asked if RMA would be determining what level of protection the levees are repaired to. Collin said they would trust USACE, NRCS, or a trusted engineer to certify if the levee is at a 25 year, 50 year, 100, year, etc., level of protection.
State
Recovery
Overview
SEMA Director Ron Walker – Discussed the Levee Sponsor Recovery Assistance that levee districts can apply for. With this state funding, SEMA can cost-share up to 75% of the 20% cost share on PL 84-99 levees that local levee districts have to provide. Explained the Missouri Disaster Recovery Framework, which is a collaborative effort between SEMA and DED.
DED Deputy Director Luke Holtschneider – Further explained the Missouri Disaster Recovery Framework and the “Whole Community Roles and Responsibilities.” Discussed how a huge component of this is data sharing between agencies and local communities.
MoDOT, Chris Engelbrecht – Explained the number of roads impacted by this year’s flooding and the current status of rehabilitation. Informed the group that MoDOT does use FEMA Public Assistance funding when they can for road repairs.
Multi-State
Recovery
Planning
Dru Buntin (MoDNR) and Chris Klenklen (MDA) – Informed the group about the lower Missouri River basin coordination and the conversations between Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. Goals include: Coordinate recovery efforts. Establish joint recovery process. Provide strong platform for the states. Really looking into where pinch-points and constrictions are; USACE to do a three to six month analysis. States will then coordinate with local stakeholders to discuss possible solutions.
Lower
Missouri River Study/
Upper Mississippi River Planning
States are interested in a whole systemic plan to reduce flood risks.
USACE Omaha District, Col. Hudson commented that identifying pinch points is good, but overall carrying capacity of systems will require a more extensive study than three to six months.
Discussion of
Future Topics
and Next Steps
Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst – Wants to know if carrying capacity has changed from what it was 25 years ago.
Col. Hudson commented that during the peak flooding, the Omaha District experienced 400,000 cfs which is way more than what the system could ever handle.
MO Corn Growers Association, Gary Marshall – Asked if many levee breaches occurred close to where dike notches were.
Col. Hudson answered by saying a lot of breaches were from overtopping and where access roads were located.
Ursa Farmers Co-op, Roger Hugenberg – Described how we all need to use science to come up with a structured plan. Also urged the group to consider that levee breaches are bad, but to not forget the weakened and stressed levees that didn’t necessarily breach but still had substantial water levels on them.
Adam Jones, Mississippi River farmer – Explained the impacts on his family farm and how there needs to be a fair and balanced approach to these discussions. We need a more comprehensive plan throughout the river system.
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, Randy Railsback – Appreciates being included in the discussion and hopes the group will have a meaningful impact. If we keep doing what we’ve always done, we’re going to get what we’ve always got. Plan needs to consider both stresses on the system by both drought and flood conditions.
Clark County Commission, Henry Dienst – Believes conversations revolving around levees is important, but ultimately dredging will be the key.
Missouri Corn Growers Association, Gary Marshall – Praised the availability of crop insurance for farmers in the river bottoms. Explained that getting levees repaired quickly is huge and that we need to help in any way we can. Wants to know if the group can discuss how to mitigate disputes between local levee districts and USACE.
Coalition to Protect the Missouri River, David Shorr – Discussed three items to include: (1) Urban areas survive really well due to their stronger levees. Need to have conversations on design for rural levees to improve them and their ability to withstand these times. (2) Would like to discuss the unregulated portions of the Missouri River, meaning the portions in which reservoirs cannot help as much. (3) There needs to be a balanced management for flood and drought years.
Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst – Discussed how the infrastructure cost is huge and that no one is really trying to find the full monetary impact on the economy from this year’s flooding. Informed the group that he has been in conversations with levee districts who have concerns regarding the deadlines of disaster declarations.
AgriServices of Brunswick, Lucy Fletcher – Explained the impact on AgriServices of Brunswick and the impact on the local community.
Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association, Bill Jackson – Wants to know the status of Congressman Sam Graves’ bill that looks at the management of the river. Dru Buntin, Deputy Director of MoDNR, said he would report back about this proposed legislation at the next FRAWG meeting. Bill described his frustrations with the Endangered Species Act and its impact on the management of the river systems.
Missouri Corn Growers Association, Gary Marshall – Would like the group to look at how other rivers are managed compared to the Missouri River, such as the Mississippi, Ohio, even out of country rivers.
Missouri Levee and Drainage District Association, Bill Jackson – Described his frustrations and asked MoDNR and MDA to help find solutions for the group to consider.
The group decided on September 20 for the next Flood Recovery Advisory Working Group meeting.
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Clerk Taylor presented the following proclamation to proclaim October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month:
Whereas, C.A.R.E. of Atchison County served 125 unduplicated victims and answered 103 crisis hotline calls during the year of 2018.
Whereas, last year Missouri domestic violence programs provided services to more than 35,500 adults, youth and children, including providing services to 1937 victims in a single day in 2018; and
Whereas, more than 30,826 Missouri victims of domestic violence in 2018 were unable to receive immediate safe shelter and support services because domestic violence programs were stretched beyond available resources and capacity to serve all families in need; and
Whereas, the Missouri State Highway Patrol recorded 45,566 domestic violence incidents, 77 domestic violence homicides and 3 domestic violence suicides in 2018; and
Whereas, domestic violence is not confined to any specific group or people, but affects people of all races, backgrounds, economic levels, education levels, family structures, ages and religions; and
Whereas, the crime of domestic violence violates members of our community’s safety, dignity, security and humanity in the form of physical, emotional, sexual, psychological and economic abuse; and
Whereas, advocates, professionals, volunteers and community members concerned with domestic violence will devote the month of October to raising awareness about the causes, interventions and prevention of this devastating crime;
Now, therefore, I, Curtis Livengood, as Presiding Commissioner of Atchison County, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and reaffirm Atchison County’s commitment to ending domestic violence in our community.
The commissioners voted to adopt the proclamation as presented.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
