BOCC approves creation of Flood Control Zone District

DAYTON—On Monday the BOCC adopted Resolution 2019-34 establishing a countywide Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) and Resolution 2019-35 adopting a ballot measure establishing a general excess levy for the operations and maintenance of that District. In November, voters will be asked to approve a permanent general excess levy of 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, to fund the FCZD. The ballot measure will require a supermajority (65%) to pass.

County Engineer Charles Eaton, who is the administrator of the FCZD, said the $100,000 generated each year would be used for grant matches. Funds would help provide for maintenance of .4 miles of levee in Starbuck, three miles of levee in Dayton, 1.2 miles of levee in the county and also for .4 miles of levee at Camp Wooten for which the state and county share responsibility. They could also help fund a new sandbagging program for the public to use during times of flooding.

“We already buy the sand and we could fill the bags and store them at public works,” Eaton said.

The county has held three public information meetings about forming a FCZD over the past few months. Eaton said the public has expressed concern about flood risk, and the need to maintain the levees, but doesn’t want to have any new taxes.

“I think it’s needed,” he said.

The Army Corp of Engineers has deemed the levees to be “minimally acceptable,” Eaton said

The commissioners were all in agreement that the benefit of having a FCZD outweighs the potential costs of doing nothing.

“A penny of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Commissioner Chuck Amerein.

Eaton said it will be up to a committee of stakeholders to help develop the FCZD guidelines and procedures.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done. It just doesn’t happen overnight,” he said.