By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A state official from Missouri says a levee project in Holt County shows a relationship shift between the state and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Director Dru Buntin, with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, says the change in the relationship started when Missouri Governor Mike Parson called for a meeting between the governors of Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.
"And really charged all of the state agency staff in all four states to, how do we look at doing something different that's going to reduce these impacts in the future," Buntin tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So that was part of it, the other part was the general assembly appropriated dollars for the state to assist with rebuilding levees that were damaged."
The state covered 75% of the costs to help repair those levees.
Buntin says following the meeting between governors, Parson came back with the goal of focusing on what the state can do to help prevent floods.
Buntin says that renewed focus has only helped in strengthening the relationship with the Corps.
"With the ability to bring some dollars to the table to help land owners, levee districts, local government, look at how can we help you implement something based on your knowledge of how these floods impact you locally, how can the state come in and help you develop a project," Buntin explains. "And that's really the point we're at today."
Buntin says the agreement for the project in Holt County will focus on working to develop projects to help make things better for the next flood event.
Buntin says this project in Holt County is unique.
"Usually, we would have to wait until the entire lower river study is complete before we can develop a project in an area like Holt County," Buntin says. "What the delegation, and what has taken so long, is to be able to move forward in Holt County at the same time we're having those discussions and not wait."
Buntin says that is a great help towards the Holt County community, which was greatly affected by the 2019 flood.
"Because really, when we go out and talk to people that are impacted during these floods, the last thing they want to hear about is a new study that's going to take years," Buntin says.