After rumors began to swirl that Montevideo was receiving a lower rate on flood insurance while Granite Falls was inundated with higher costs, Granite Falls City Manager Bill Lavin proactively contacted his Montevideo counterpart, Steve Jones.
According to Lavin, Montevideo is not yet receiving a better deal as has been rumored, but Jones is working on an application that should help lower their costs in the near future.
According to a letter addressed to Lavin from Montevideo Community Development Director Nick Haggenmiller, Jones has been working on the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS) applications for the past six months. As a result, Montevideo will be in line to receive a lower flood insurance rating, which will lessen insurance costs.
Lavin said that he was informed that the application was rather arduous, but during a Granite Falls City Council meeting held on Tuesday evening commented, “We’ve done so much [flood work] that I don’t think it will take much to at least receive a classification change” before going into more extensive application work, he said.
Other news:
•The Sawmill will receive an $82,500 loan from the EDA’s Revolv-ing Loan Fund to allow for the purchase of inventory at better wholesale pricing this winter prior to its retail this summer. Council members approved the loan at three percent interest at the recommendation of the EDA board. According to EDA director Dennis Van Hoof, the Sawmill has never missed a payment on previous loans.
•Council members approved preliminary steps in a library initiative that entails seeking funds from a USDA Rural Development grant and/or loan that may be available to help fund the library or possibly a library/senior center joint project. Library board member Lynn Holm-strom said the amount of the grant/loan would be up to $100,000. Accord-ing to Lavin the council’s approval was only for preliminary work that would determine if the library/senior center was eligible for the funds. It would not bind the City to any obligation.
