November 29, 2011: Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle is urging Congress to authorize $14 million to fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ infrastructure repair work in Omaha. He made the request in a letter sent to Capitol Hill today.
In the letter addressed to Rep. Bob Gibbs, (R-OH) Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, Mayor Suttle asked Congress to “work expediently to repair and restore our levees and flood control structures that were damaged by the floodwaters this year.”
The letter, offered for tomorrow’s subcommittee hearing entitled The Missouri River Flood: An Assessment of River Management in 2011 and Operational Plans for the Future, states that the Corps of Engineers is responsible for $14 million in repairs to infrastructure, but they currently lack the funding to complete the needed repairs. “Through the combined efforts of city staff, consultants, contractors, and the US Army Corps of Engineers, we won the battle against the Missouri River this summer. However, Omaha and the 13 miles of levees that protect it are badly bruised.”
“I have already spoken with Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Steve King (R-IA), and Tom Latham (R-IA),” said Mayor Suttle. “I want to make sure that Washington understands the urgency of our needs. I am hopeful that they will authorize the funding by year’s end so that we can begin the process of repairing our levees by early 2012.”
