Local officials plan for potential spring flooding

The Local Emergency Planning Commission recently convened to prepare for spring flooding. Emergency Manager Jess Earle prepared a command chart outlining when and how officials will be notified and participate in mitigation efforts in the event of flooding. Later, at their regular meetings, both the New Rockford city and Eddy County commissions reviewed the chart and made recommendations to Earle.

All city commissioners will be added to the “operations” position so they will receive emails with pertinent updates. Commissioner Kelly McKnight will remain the city’s Public Information Officer.

The Public Information Officer for the county is Tiffany Harr. Commissioners decided to add Chairman Dave Gehrtz to the operations team. new Rockford Park District Manager Dennis Nybo will also be added to the operations team, due to his responsibility to the parks. The county commissioners agreed to set up a headquarters for Earle in the lunchroom of the county shop in New Rockford or in the fire hall, so she can be close to the action for coordination efforts.

As for sandbagging efforts, local officials got a jump start last fall by filling about 1,500 bags, which are stored in the city shop downtown. Gehrtz noted that former New Rockford Mayor Jim Belquist documented previous sandbagging efforts with photographs, to identify where the efforts were most effective and where it may have not been necessary. He said that information will be invaluable should the need to sandbag arise this spring.

Quickly changing road conditions are already a concern. At the county commission meeting on March 3, Road Superintendent Todd Weber approached the water board about a prairie trail between Section 15 and 16 in Superior Township from County Road 3 to Joey Seiler’s farm. The county road has three 30-inch culverts, but the prairie trail has only one newer 30-inch culvert and an older 42-inch culvert that is damaged from beaver dam abatement. Water inundated the county road last fall due to lack of flow, according to Weber. From the section line, water easily goes downhill to the river via a grass ravine. Weber asked that the water board consider installing another 30-inch culvert and replace the 42-inch with a third 30 inch to equal the flow coming in. Reis will discuss the matter with Superior Township officials, noting that townships have jurisdiction on their own roads, and the water board can only make suggestions regarding culvert size and placement.

Weber also identified a few roads he is monitoring as the snow melts. Eddy County 1 west of Sheyenne will be marked at Trucks 35 mph. The county road from water plant road to Hwy. 281 is also in bad shape (see photo at right). He will continue to keep a close eye on conditions and address as necessary.

As the season progresses, the Transcript will keep readers informed with breaking news updates online at http://www.newrockfordtranscript.com.