BENTON - United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has approved funds for a clean out of the St. John's Ditch.
Scott County commissioners discussed the project with Brian LeGrand from the NCRS and Tom Bridger, Sikeston's public works director, during their regular meeting Tuesday.
The plan is to remove about 2.5 feet of sediment along with woody and foreign debris from the St. John's channel starting at Scott County Highway 450 on the north end and extending 7.8 miles south through Sikeston with the last 1.6 miles being in New Madrid County.
"This should reduce the flooding on these 200-300 homes near the St. John's ditch," said Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel, He added that Sikeston and Scott County still desperately need the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete their St. John's Bayou-New Madrid Floodway Project to really address flooding problems, however. "We're pushing on the St. John's project, too," Priggel said.
LeGrand agreed the project is "not a fix-all" solution, but will relieve pressure on the drainage system.
Scott County officials agreed to meet March 13 to finalize the project agreement, sign contracts and place the local matching funds in an escrow account.
The project's funding is made available through the NRCS's Federal Emergency Watershed Protection program set up by Congress to respond to emergencies created by natural disasters. "Without them, we couldn't be doing this project," Priggel said.
LeGrand said $2 million was appropriated for Missouri under this program. This particular project received approval due to last year's flooding. "That's why we're able to do this," LeGrand said.
NRCS will pay 75 percent of the project's cost with the other 25 percent coming from the local sponsor.
With a projected total cost of $432,670 the local match will be roughly $108,168. Sikeston has agreed to contribute about $75,000 to the project leaving the county's share at around $33,500.
Commissioner Jamie Burger said that in addition to providing funds, NRCS's engineering expertise is also extremely valuable.
"The council's already on board," Bridger confirmed, advising the Sikeston City Council would hold a special meeting to take any necessary action prior to March 13.
LeGrand said all the work permits are ready and he has verbal permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, "but we need something in writing from them."
Officials confirmed easement issues are resolved and LeGrand took notes on which side of the ditch the excavator will need to work from for each section of the project.
Trees will be taken down on the side the excavator works from, although they may work around individual trees by request, according to officials.
LeGrand said they will solicit for bids on the project beginning April 1, advertising for about 45 days before opening bids sometime around mid-May.
In other Scott County business, commissioners approved the purchase of three 2003 vehicles for the sheriff's department using state bids. One truck at $18,238 and two cars at $20,189 will be purchased with two '99 cars being traded in at $2,800 each and one '96 model at $400.