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Demolition underway in Dutchtown flood buyout
CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Dutchtown flood buyout project is almost complete, as nearly half the properties in flood-prone areas have been torn down.
It's the culmination of a multiyear process for the village, which has experienced major flooding over the years and often had to seek sandbagging help from volunteers and local members of the Missouri National Guard.
The opportunity arose in early 2014 when the village -- after working for some time on the application -- received $797,758 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with a flood buyout project.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development also approved $208,663 in community development block grants to help Dutchtown acquire the properties damaged in 2011. Receiving the block grant was key, as it helped Dutchtown reach the 25 percent match required with the federal grant.
Self-employed contractor Ronald Kucera Jr. has been working on excavating properties since Thursday. A pile of rubble that was a home sat next to the property at the top of his list Monday morning. The next property to come down, after removing the metal siding and scrapping some of the wood, was the former Affordable Merchandise building at the intersection of highways 74 and 25. The building also housed Moss Auto Sales until the 1990s.
Other homes lined up along Highway 25 in Dutchtown are empty, sporting papers taped to front windows cautioning no trespassing. Kucera said his work has largely gone without a hitch, but some people do not heed the signs.
"I do have one problem: people stealing stuff," he said.
Fifteen homes were included in the federal buyout, and 11 homes accepted the voluntary offer.
Many of those living in the buyout homes chose to move out in June when Mississippi River levels hit a major flood stage of 42 feet, and floodwaters began creeping into Dutchtown.
Properties obtained through the buyout belong to Dutchtown. Use of land in a floodplain is limited by law, and most often the properties become green space. No enclosed buildings are allowed in floodplains.
Remaining homes in the flood-buyout project will be torn down this week.