VAN BUREN -- Carter County citizens once again packed the county's temporary courtroom Friday morning to plead their case to save the historic courthouse that was flooded 18 months ago as the consensus of the commission is to "move forward" with a new courthouse.
Commissioners and citizens were told by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) nearly two weeks ago less than $40,000 stands between repairing or replacing the historic courthouse.
FEMA estimates repair of the courthouse would cost 53 percent of the amount to replace the building and regulations cap repair expenses at 50 percent. To qualify for replacement funds, the damage estimate would need to be at $626,121 or lower, but came in at $665,337.
"I see FEMA coming to the table offering to build us a brand new facility completely paid for and we will not owe a debt," Presiding Commissioner Donald Black said.
During a phone call with FEMA and SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) last Tuesday, Black reported he, Commissioner Andy Steiger and newly-elected Presiding Commissioner Ron Keeney were told the group would not put money in the old courthouse for repairs because of the flooding risk.
"They (FEMA) have made it clear to us, and I think Ronnie understands what he's up against after the meeting," Black said. "But I want to make something really clear, this commission will not advocate for anything being torn down. Rumors are going around it's going to get torn down and is deteriorating. The only way that will happen is if we let it deteriorate."
Black went on to say he believed the county had enough citizens who have expressed donating time and money to restore the courthouse to be used for other purposes, which he stated he would be involved with.
Black and Steiger reported once the courthouse is signed off on from FEMA, the county can use it as seen fit.
"There are no stipulations, no red tape that says we have to tear it down," Black said. "It will belong to the people."
During Friday's meeting, Steiger reported Keeney told him he was "on board" to go with a new courthouse and combine three facilities after hearing from FEMA last week.
The jail is reported with damage valued at $528,116, 69 percent of replacement cost, and the sheriff's department at $234,071, 91 percent of replacement cost.
These amounts do not reflect what FEMA may contribute to the project.
Black reported FEMA would pay 75 percent of the replacement cost, the state of Missouri will pay 10 percent and the county will be responsible for 15 percent.
The county's cost, Black said, will be paid with the help of Ozark Vitality and community block development grants.
"The county is not going to be out a dime, not a penny," he said. "We are going to be covered and it's going to be paid for."
Included would be the cost to purchase private land for a new facility.
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POSSIBLE LOCATION
Black reported four pieces of land are being studied, but no purchases have been made.
The four sites include the former Starlight Motel location, an area near the Jehovah Witness Church, eight acres on Highway 60 owned by Tom Bedell and land behind the Dollar General owned by Osage Properties, LLC of St. Louis.
Two of the sites are in the floodplain and would be required to be leveled, which FEMA will not pay for. The location near Dollar General is not in a floodplain.
Downtown business owner Rick Drummond questioned Black on whether or not he believed "it was pretty much a done deal the courthouse was going behind the Dollar General."
"No, it's a possibility, but studies have to be finished and submitted to FEMA. There are a lot of steps," Black replied. "It's out of the flood zone, water and sewer are there. If the footprint fits there, I would say it's a good possibility that's where it will go."
Lifelong Carter County resident Linda Terry expressed feelings downtown would be destroyed if the courthouse were to locate elsewhere.
"I don't expect it to ever flood again," she said. "It was a once-in-a-generation event."
The river brings 40,000 to 50,000 people to Carter County each summer, Black said, not the courthouse. He also referenced the decreased sales tax in cooler months.
"I'm not dismissing the courthouse," he said. "The courthouse is very important, but it is not what sustains Van Buren. We as a community and businesses can support one another."
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REPLACEMENT COSTS
To pay for the up-front costs of a potential project, Carter County secured a three-year, zero-percent-interest loan of $150,000 from the Department of Economic Development, Black said, as a cash flow start-up for the project.
In order to get reimbursed money from FEMA, invoices must be first paid, then sent in for reimbursement, he said. The county does not have the money to start the process.
The loaned money is in general revenue, Black said, and will only be used as a cash flow for the project when started.
Realizing $150,000 would not be enough to start the process, Black said a second three-year, zero-percent-interest loan of $150,000 is being applied for.
FEMA holds 25 percent of the county's money until the project is finished and signed off on. Once complete, Black said the 25 percent will be reimbursed, a check to pay the two loans will be written and the county will have no debt and no interest to pay.
One citizen stood during the meeting to agree with accepting FEMA's money for a new facility. The citizen said an all-funded facility "just makes sense" and according to his "coffee shop gossip" others were in support of the decision as well.
Samantha Jackson asked the commission why money could not be borrowed to restore the courthouse rather than for FEMA reimbursement.
"If it was used for the courthouse we are going to owe that debt," Black said. "That is $300,000 at the end and the county can't afford to owe $300,000."
Jackson also questioned the proposal of restoring the courthouse for other offices, but not the courts or elected official's offices.
Black replied by saying the Extension Office could be housed in the courthouse, but if the building were to flood again, FEMA and SEMA would "walk by us" and not put money in the facility.
"You're banking on FEMA and SEMA money," Jackson said. "That's all you see as a solution."
While Black said he heard and understood the crowd and wished the flood never happened, he stressed the agencies would not build these facilities for the county in the future even with flood insurance.
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TIME TO 'MOVE FORWARD'
To add to the urgency of a decision moving forward, Black said temporary facilities are not adequate and cost the county $3,000 a month in rent, the sheriff's department has no jail and is in a facility with no water with winter approaching. In addition, the county was incurring costs for transporting and housing inmates in other counties.
With no flood insurance on the courthouse at this time, Liz Orr asked the commission if the county would pay flood insurance on a rehabbed courthouse in the event public funds were raised.
"We will have to pay it," Black replied.
Orr also questioned the commission's decision to contribute $10,000 to Ozark Vitality's cause within the county.
Black expressed the commission felt the required $10,000 match for a $345,000 grant was something they could bring to the table in light of the $300,000 written grants for the community from Ozark Vitality.
The $10,000 goes toward temporary building rent, an employee who only provides work with FEMA and supplies so the county is not out "on a limb on that money," according to Black, which for the county alone would have cost over $100,000.
"If the county had to pay for all this and we couldn't find the grants and funding and didn't have people like (Ozark Vitality), we would be bankrupt," he said.
He added the county had to be careful with the lack of money in general revenue. He feared the longer the county waited, funds could run out leaving the county to pay the costs.
"We represent the entire county and we have got to make some decisions for everyone," Black said. "We have got to move forward with this, its been a year and a half. Time is going to run out on the offer that is laying on the table."
The commission will continue to discuss the matter at their regular meetings.