VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Carter County commissioners say they will decide the fate of the community's historic courthouse after final data regarding funding and costs to recover from an April 2017 flood is gathered.
The courthouse and a justice center were the main topics Wednesday of a community meeting that drew approximately 100 people to the Van Buren Youth and Community Center.
Some residents asked the matter of the courthouse be put to a vote of the people, but presiding commissioner Don Black said the decision would rest in the hands of elected officials.
"I think you elected us as your representatives and we will listen to you, but I don't think it's a vote on this," Black said near the end of the approximately two-hour meeting. "After all the numbers are in and what we can do, the commission will be the ones to make that decision."
The county continues to dispute how much the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover and FEMA has not provided final figures of damage estimates, according to Black.
He encouraged residents to call and write their elected officials at the state and federal level.
The help of U.S. Rep. Jason Smith and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill are needed to move forward, Black believes.
Black has invited Blunt and McCaskill to come to Carter County to discuss the flood recovery needs, but said he does not believe they will come.
He has also had trouble getting Smith's attention, Black told residents.
"I don't carry a very big political stick. He does, if he will use it," Black said. "He came for the photo op the day of the flood and ain't been back since and I ain't got to talk to him since. I'm hoping that he'll get in there with us and push the button."
Smith was in Carter County on Wednesday, according to his office, to attend an event at East Carter School District.
Black also went to Jefferson City recently, to try to speak with Gov. Eric Greitens, but was unable to see the governor.
The governor was among those who toured Van Buren immediately after the flooding, as state and federal officials promised Carter County would have all of the support it needed to recover.
The courthouse, justice center and much of the Van Buren downtown were inundated with water when the Current River topped 37.2 feet during a flood that broke century-old records.
It impacted approximately 40 of the 75 businesses listed by the local chamber of commerce and dozens of homes.
Damaged material was immediately stripped from the courthouse and it has sat empty since the flood.
"It's been said I want to tear the courthouse down. That's bogus. That's not true," said Black. "The question is, how do we fund it, pay for it."
FEMA has not provided final damage estimates and the figures continue to change, said Black.
A FEMA estimate of $1.1 million to repair the courthouse changed this week to $1.2 million, he said. An estimate of costs to repair the jail changed two weeks ago from just under $370,000 to approximately $528,000, according to Black.
The county hired St. Louis, Mo., firm CTS Group two weeks ago to begin drafting repair estimates, he said.
Officials also continue to dispute a FEMA ruling that recovery money should be reduced by more than half because the county did not carry flood insurance.
FEMA says the courthouse and jail fell within a designation that required the insurance.
The county argues a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan for the justice center did not require flood insurance. They also say that the courthouse was moved to an outlying floodplain designation in 1986.
"I'm trying to be real honest with you. I'm not going to sugar coat it. This is what we're up against," Black said.
Even if money is provided, the county also has to meet guidelines set by the State Historical Preservation Office regarding how repairs are completed, he said.
FEMA denied repairs to the heating and cooling system at the courthouse because the changes did not meet with SHPO approval, according to Black.
The system needs to be raised four feet, to place it above flood level, he said.
SHPO denied the change because it would adversely impact the appearance of the courthouse, Black explained.
Some residents argued if the county has promised not to tear down the courthouse, then county offices should return to the building.
"People are really, really unhappy that we might lose the courthouse," said resident Mary Norris, a native of Carter County. "The town depends on the courthouse."
Resident Samantha Jackson agreed, one of several to ask during the meeting when the county could make a decision. Jackson's mother-in-law, Janet, owned the Float Stream restaurant, which once sat across from the courthouse. The building was badly damaged in the flood and has since been torn down.
Black said he could not give a timeline.
He feels the best option for the county is to pursue full funding of recovery efforts by FEMA.
"If I flinch ... it's going to cost each and every one of us a lot of money," Black said. "Someone's going to have to absorb the 58 percent (FEMA cut) and it doesn't need to be us."
He is fighting with FEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency every day, Black said.
"My goal is to try to get this courthouse put back. My goal is to get a sheriff's office, a jail and a justice center, where it doesn't fall on the backs of you guys or on me or on our kids, because this is a big project," Black said.
Other options the county could consider as a last resort are fundraisers and a sales tax increase or bond measure, Black said.
Like many residents, Janet Burke's mind was not changed by the information provided during the meeting.
"I feel like the county offices need to go back in the courthouse," said Burke, who has lived in Van Buren since 1973 and whose family owns Main Street Market.
Some, like Norris, believe the county should use current cash balances to start work. The county ended 2017 with more than $450,000 in its cash reserve, Norris said.
Part of that money includes a $150,000 loan to start FEMA projects, when the county can move forward, Black said.
Other money is needed to maintain basic operations.
"I can spend that money in 10 minutes and we won't meet our obligations next month," he said.
The county could also see an additional annual cost of up to $60,000 for flood insurance, if it returns to the courthouse.
Commissioners would like to relocate the jail and justice center and have asked for the donation of property from the state or federal governments, which Black said holds approximately 66 percent of Carter County land.
Volunteers are still needed for other clean up efforts, Black said.
A long term recovery meeting is held on the third Thursday of every month. Groups including 10 union carpenters from St. Louis, and a recovery group from Iowa continue to travel to Van Buren to help with home repairs, Black said.