Jasper Council passes additional appropriations for house purchase

The City of Jasper passed an ordinance (2011-29) for additional appropriations for the purchase of a home in a flood zone at the end of Main Street. The home is one of six slated to be purchased by the city due to their propensity to flood. The appropriations to purchase this house will come from Economic Development Income Tax funds.

According to Jasper Mayor Bill Scmitt the Army Corp of Engineers has contacted the city twice in the past eight years to inform them that the impoundment was too full to protect the city and a sandbag berm would need to be built along the railroad tracks in that area to protect the rest of Jasper. These homes fall outside of that protective berm.

“Luckily, the rain stopped and it was unnecessary to evacuate the homes.” Mayor Scmitt explained.

The city is attempting to work with FEMA to receive grants to purchase the homes. A meeting was held with the home owners on Monday and they were agreeable to selling the homes to the city. The home discussed at the council meeting is currently vacant and the owner had plans to renovate the house, but after hearing of the city’s intentions an offer to sell the property to the city was made.

The grants could take up to two to three years to be awarded to the city. If the city receives the grants to purchase the homes, they can be demolished and a park can be put in their place. Paul Lorey approached the council about the potential to use the purchased homes for fire department training before leveling them. He was told that it was an option if the purchases occurred and it was deemed safe.