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RANDOLPH – The city has been met with resistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to turn over some documents needed to file a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for the Middle Logan Creek Floodplain Project.
City Administrator Sheila Korth-Focken said she requested some specific files needed to complete the LOMR, a potential stopgap measure to provide flood insurance relief while new floodplain maps are finalized.
“The Army Corps has yet to send over the files and it doesn’t look like they’re going to do it,” she said at the city council meeting last week.
She made an official Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request last week and the Corps acknowledged receiving the FOIA but Korth-Focken said it could take a year to receive the documents she’s requesting which includes some technical models.
Norfolk engineering firm, JEO, has been assisting in filling out the LOMR but can’t move forward without the documents.
“We’re in a holding pattern until they get the document they need,” she said.
JEO could do their own modeling of the floodplain project but it would cost about $35,000.
Korth-Focken said she has been in contact with U.S. Sen. Pete Rickett’s office to see if they can assist in recovering the Corps documents needed. She may also reach out to the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources to see if there’s any other routes to push the LOMR forward.
Although the LOMR is not a guarantee, if granted, it could provide some immediate relief as it could take another three years before federal maps are finalized, lifting its floodplain designation. Historically, a LOMR has been used for individual property owners, but Korth-Focken would be seeking one on a broader scale for the entire town.
Major construction wrapped on the Middle Logan Creek Floodplain project last summer. The two-phase $17 million project began in 2020 and reduces Randolph properties in the floodplain by 95 percent.
The council also approved a $2,500 expense for a survey related to the floodplain project.
New flooring approved
Tile will be removed and a new epoxy floor installed at the city auditorium kitchen.
The city council approved a $2,700 estimate from Erickson Floors, Norfolk, for the work that has been described as long overdue.
“The auditorium has had multiple issues with the ice machine leaking . . . tiles are cracked, water has gotten under it and caused black mold under it. The tiles itself near the entrance of the kitchen, basically you can lift it right off,” said John Dickes, Public Works supervisor.
Currently, half of the kitchen floor tile has been removed with rugs placed over those spots.
The epoxy floor is guaranteed for 15 years and would have a light grit texture that would still be easy to clean. A style would be picked to match the current cabinets, Dickes said.
“I think it’s a pretty modest price and better than putting any kind of other flooring in,” he said.
The work would be timed so that the contractor could come in on a Monday after any weekend events at the auditorium. The flooring could be installed, dried and ready to use at the end of the business week.
No other bids were obtained, but the city is not required to as the estimated work is under the $30,000 threshold.
Local keno
City council members also approved an interlocal cooperation agreement with Cedar County to open the door to a local establishment to offer keno. Under the agreement, Cedar County receives 70 percent of all net proceeds generated from approved lottery outlets and the municipality - in this case City of Randolph - would receive 30 percent. The money divided by the county and city are the proceeds after awarding prizes, lottery expenses, payment of taxes and all other expenses.
Under the agreement, the city would be paid quarterly by the county and the county would handle all of the county and reporting requirements.
The agreement would be active for two years. After that time, the parties can decide whether they want to keep the agreement, change it, or put local keno up for a vote and then the City of Randolph would net all of the proceeds.
“It’s letting Randolph get through an initial period and then re-evaluating what you would want to do in the future,” Korth-Focken said.
The agreement is modeled off how Knox County handles its keno system and follows all of the state requirements as set forth by Nebraska Cooperative Government (NCG). Any local establishment who wants to offer keno locally would have to apply and be approved by NCG.
“This just fast tracks it for us to get it going, to see if it does well in here, to see if businesses even want to do it,” said Councilman Todd Greiner. “It seems like a win-win for now.”
The next step is for the Cedar County Board of Commissioners to approve the agreement. Their next meeting is at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 25.
The next regular meeting of the Randolph City Council is set for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 9.
