Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz began Monday night’s regular meeting of the Austin City Council with words of sympathy for the flood victims.

Tuesday, July 18, 2000

Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz began Monday night’s regular meeting of the Austin City Council with words of sympathy for the flood victims.

"Our hearts go out to you," she said to the impassive faces in the council chambers audience. "It’s a very, very difficult time for all of you."

The mayor said U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht (R-Minn.) wants to bring the Army Corps of Engineers to Austin for a meeting to discuss flood-control measures. Also, U.S. Sen. Rod Grams (R-Minn.) has expressed his willingness to pursue possible solutions to the recurring incidence of flooding in Austin.

Sam Ventura, a public information spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said 163 applications from Mower County residents were received through Sunday. Ten have been approved for $32,584 and the checks to the victims should be arriving in the next two to three weeks.

In all eight counties considered to be part of the presidential disaster declaration area, 2,074 Minnesotans have been declared eligible for disaster assistance and federal grants totaling $1.11 million already have been approved for 790 residents.

The mayor praised FEMA for its fast response to the local emergency.

Also receiving the mayor’s praise was Bob Nelson, the Austin-Mower County emergency preparedness director, and Elaine Hansen, executive director of the Mower County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Rietz also praised the Salvation Army Austin Corps for helping flood victims, while becoming a flood victim itself when water washed into the organization’s headquarters.

She praised Austin city staff and employees, as well as Austin Utilities for "stepping in right away in a crisis situation."

Even the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce was singled out for "businesses helping other businesses" by the mayor.

Also, Dick Chaffee, council member at large, said he wants the council members to look at solutions that can be implemented in a quicker period of time than the anticipated three or four years.

Chaffee said he had visited all areas of the city impacted by last weekend’s flooding and, "it’s just not fair."

He wants the city to move speedily toward taking measures to prevent the flooding from happening again.

The emergency preparedness director announced FEMA, the federal Small Business Administration and other agencies plan to conduct a mass signup at the Minnesota Army National Guard Armory similar to the one conducted in 1993.

The dates have tentatively been set for July 27 and 28, according to Nelson, when federal, state and local officials will help victims explore what opportunities exist for assistance.