Montevideo, Minn., Council to seek flood buyout funds for businesses in Smith Addition

MONTEVIDEO — Montevideo City Council members have agreed to pursue flood mitigation monies for businesses in the Smith Addition.
Council members agreed Monday to apply for up to a $1 million grant in state and Federal Emergency Management Agency funds that could be available.
City Manager Steve Jones said the city earlier contacted Smith Addition businesses about possible interest in flood buyouts after learning that additional monies would be made available following the Duluth flooding. The city originally anticipated seeking $500,000 in grant funds, but the response from Smith Addition businesses was greater than expected.
At this point the interest is preliminary and businesses are not obligated to go forward with a buy ut. The city has been supportive of efforts to remove residential and commercial properties in the floodplain, Jones said.
In other business at the regular meeting Monday, council members approved action to call for bids on the 2013 street improvement projects. The city is looking at an estimated $1,446,000 worth of work, with $475,000 of the total assessed to benefited property.
The 2013 projects include work on portions of Sheridan Avenue, Park Avenue, Grove Avenue, the Chippewa County fairgrounds entrance off U.S. Highway 212, and the cemetery and Smith Park.
Jones said council members also adopted a set of guiding principles to go forward to develop a new comprehensive plan for the community.
The principles range from a goal of maintaining and strengthening the city’s unique qualities to promoting growth, infrastructure upgrades and diverse economic opportunities.
The City Council and Planning Commission will be meeting in the next three months with a goal of ratifying a comprehensive plan this summer.