COMMUNITY OVERVIEW

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2002

Tony Mendes, ND & SD POC Contact, FEMA, Region VIII, 303-235-4790

Lynne Rath, SD POC, SD DEM, Pierre, SD  605-773-3231

ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA REPORT

For more information, contact:

Robin Bobzien, Aberdeen, SD PI POC, 605-626-7017

Vernon H Meyer, Aberdeen, SD PI Coordinator, 605-626-7017

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT SIGNED:  December 2, 1998

ABERDEEN, SD – Current Activities – February - 2002

§                     South Aberdeen Drainage Projects:

1.      South-West Drainage Project: 

The Contractor, Dahme Construction Inc.,began construction on December 7, 2001.  Work has proceeded on all three    facets of the project:  4,434 feet of storm sewer, 2178 feet of force main and excavating a 362,170 cubic yard holding pond.  As of February 12, 2002, 4,593 lineal feet of 60-inch reinforced concrete storm sewer pipe and 2,150 lineal feet of 18-inch force-main have been installed.  Approximately 233,000 cubic yards have been excavated for the holding pond.  Due to the high water table in this area, temporary pumps were installed to dewater so excavation can proceed.  The valve pit as well and wet well have been installed. A 10 Hp and 60 Hp pump have been installed in the wet well.  Inlet and discharge pipes remain to be connected.  Construction expenditures so far have been about $1,438,410.  The winning bid for the total project was $2,903,826.46.  The City and the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will fund it.  FEMA will provide $1.5 million and the City will fund the remainder of the project.

2.      South-East Drainage Project: 

The City is currently working on designing a new storm sewer for flood prone areas of south Lincoln and south Main Street.

§                     North Aberdeen Drainage Projects:

1.      Northwest Storm Water Detention Basin: 

The Storm Water Management Plan suggested solution for the northwest Aberdeen involves a number of   components:

A.   Increasing the capacity of the existing “Conlin Holding Pond”

B.    Replace and/or install new gravity storm sewer to holding pond and

C.    Install a new 12-inch force main from holding pond to Foot Creek.

The initial project will be to increase the holding pond capacity by making the existing pond deeper.  This will add approximately 17.5 acre-feet of storm water storage.  Existing inlets and outlet will also be replaced with new structures.

Bids for this project were opened January 30, 2002.  Dahme Construction Company was the low bidder at $118,521.15 and was awarded the contract on February 4 at the City Commission meeting.

2.      Piping & Lift Stations for the above projects: 

Dates for a bid opening are scheduled for sometime 

in March or April 2002.

§                     Northeast Flood Control Project: 

All land needed to construct Phase II of the Aberdeen Flood Control Project has been purchased.  After title insurance has been obtained, the project can then be bid.

§                     Moccasin Creek Low-Flow Channel Project: 

The Colorado consultant, INTERFLUVE, is in the process of determining the feasibility of changing Moccasin Creek channel cross section to facilitate better transport of sediment during low water flows.  A representative of INTERFLUVE was in Aberdeen on January 15 to review existing conditions on Moccasin Creek.  The preliminary design and recommendations shall be completed by March 1, 2002.  A grant of up to $5,000 from the State of South Dakota is available for this work.

§                     NOAA Weather Radios: 

It was very gratifying to see the City of Sioux Falls and the State of South Dakota getting involved in promoting the idea of distributing NOAA weather radios.  It has been almost two years since local agencies such as the National Weather Service and Red Cross began promoting the idea of NOAA weather radios for the deaf with the help of the City of Aberdeen, local businesses and private individuals financing the project. 

Following the initial project, efforts were made to expand the concept.  The local Northern Rural Electric Cooperative along with the East River Rural Electric Cooperative began distributing weather radios to their customers and the general public in many counties throughout eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.  S & S Communications of Aberdeen followed suit and offered weather radios at a reduced cost.  The City of Columbia went so far as to purchase 100 radios and donate one to each household in their community free of charge.

With other communities now promoting the idea, it helps keep the concept alive.  Since the September 11, 2001 attack, Governor Janklow decided to use the weather radios for threats to public safety including terrorist attacks.  The State purchased 10,000 radios and about half of them are expected to be distributed to facilities responsible for the safety of their clients while the remainder of the radios are for sale to the public at a reduced price.   

None of this would have been possible if the transmitters had not been in place.  Thanks to the efforts of Senator Tim Johnson, federal funding increased the number of transmitters and expanded weather radio coverage.  The final product is something that FEMA, Project Impact and all involved should be proud of! 

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