With FEMA still dragging its feet, Buena Vista County is stepping up with its own dollars to keep Linn Grove’s dam and park repairs moving.
The county board of supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution committing $40,000 from the General Basic ending fund balance to support upcoming repair work tied to the Linn Grove dam and in‑channel projects. The money isn’t new spending — it’s a carryover of unused maintenance funds the conservation department couldn’t deploy this year because FEMA has not yet authorized the next phase of work.
The Linn Grove site has been tied up in federal review for years. The dam and surrounding parkland were heavily damaged in the 2018 and 2019 floods, triggering a FEMA disaster declaration. A second round of flooding in 2024 led to another declaration, covering additional in‑channel erosion and structural damage.
The county has already been through two appeals and a successful arbitration after FEMA previously de‑obligated both projects entirely. Although arbitration confirmed the dam is eligible for federal funding, FEMA Region 7 continues to dispute portions of the park project and has relied on outdated 2021 engineering estimates — even after requesting and receiving updated 2025 numbers.
Conservation Director Greg Johnson told supervisors the county is still actively working with FEMA on both disaster files. He said some of the state‑level paperwork is still moving through the Attorney General’s Office and the Governor’s Office.
Johnson said the conservation department intentionally preserved maintenance dollars this year because engineering work for Linn Grove can’t move forward until FEMA signs off.
He emphasized the $40,000 request is not an increase in county spending.
Supervisors noted the commitment simply reserves part of the ending fund balance so the county is ready when FEMA finally clears the next steps.
Johnson also reminded the board that while FEMA has reimbursed the county for completed campground and electrical work tied to the 2024 disaster, the in‑channel and dam‑related repairs remain unresolved — the most complex and expensive portions of the project.
He said the county recently submitted new documentation after FEMA questioned whether there was duplication between the 2019 and 2024 disaster claims — a determination the county disputes.
