Iowa Council Facing Possible $50M Bill On Levees

Repairs and improvements on Council Bluffs river and creek levees in Iowa could cost the city $50 million.

The Daily Nonpareil reported the estimate comes from a study on the work needed to repair river and creek levees to meet federal standards.

City engineer Matt Cox says the improvements are necessary to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency certify that the city’s levee systems are adequate. Without that certification, FEMA would redraw its city maps to show the entire west side of the city could be prone to flooding. And Cox says that would force property owners there to pay high flood insurance rates.

Cox intends to ask the City Council on Monday to approve hiring an engineering firm to oversee the work.