City to move forward with floodplain alternative study

The Madison City Commission is moving forward with an opportunity to evaluate its alternatives for flood risk management. Commissioners on Monday approved an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a Section 22 Planning Assistance to States study. City Engineer Chad Comes said the updated study will help identify opportunities for the city to help reduce flood risk.

Comes said that the total cost of the study is 150-thousand dollars, with the city needing to pay half of it. He said that the city had budgeted 50-thousand dollars for this type of a study in this year’s budget, and will be approaching Lake County or other entities to see if they are interested in helping finance the remaining 25-thousand dollars needed to make up the 50-percent.

Comes said the Section 22 study by the Corps will provide the city with updated information.

Commissioner Kelly Johnson said that the city has to work with the Corps in order to get anything done in the future. Commissioner Mike Waldner said flood mitigation is a complex issue, and the updated study is needed in order for the city to move forward.