The Buena Vista County Conservation Board is preparing for yet another appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency over long‑delayed repairs to the Linn Grove Dam—an eight‑year dispute that has already included two appeals, a successful arbitration, and millions of dollars in shifting cost estimates.
During a special meeting Thursday, Conservation Director Greg Johnson told the board that FEMA’s Region 7 office has once again advanced the project without the county’s concurrence, which automatically triggered a new appeal window. He said the county’s updated agreement with outside legal counsel is needed because FEMA’s latest action restarted the process.
The county has until April 2 or 3 to file the appeal. Johnson confirmed the county will again work with Nyemaster Goode of Des Moines, the same firm that represented Buena Vista County during its first arbitration.
Johnson walked the board through FEMA’s newest funding figures—numbers he says still fall far short of what it will take to restore the dam and surrounding parkland damaged in the 2018 and 2019 floods.
FEMA currently lists the dam project at $3.1 million and the park project at $2.96 million, for a combined total of just over $6 million. Johnson reminded the board that FEMA originally obligated $7.5 million years ago, and even that was below the county’s engineering estimate of $8.5 million to return the site to pre‑disaster conditions.
He also said FEMA is relying on outdated cost estimates. Johnson told the board FEMA is still using the county’s 2021 engineering numbers for the dam—even though FEMA requested updated 2025 costs last spring and acknowledged receiving them.
The county’s current engineering estimates show the dam project at $3.6 million and the park project at $6.2 million—a combined total of roughly $10 million. Johnson said the increases since 2021 amount to nearly $500,000 for the dam and $730,000 for the park.
Despite that, FEMA continues to treat the project as a $6 million effort, not a $10 million one.
Board members asked what the county’s outside counsel will do next. Johnson said the firm will prepare the first appeal, which FEMA can either accept or deny. If denied, the county can again pursue arbitration.
Johnson said FEMA already has all necessary documentation, though the attorneys will prepare additional evidence as needed.
Some board members questioned whether the numbers will ever catch up to reality. Johnson said arbitration already confirmed the dam is an eligible project, but FEMA Region 7 is still deeming parts of the park project ineligible.
The board voted unanimously to authorize Johnson to sign the updated agreement for outside counsel.
