Gov. Dayton Asks For $3M To Protect Georgetown
GEORGETOWN, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton administration's wants $3 million to protect the tiny western Minnesota town of Georgetown from future floods.
Dayton amended an earlier public works proposal after visiting the town of 129 last weekend.
The Forum reports the new $3 million is on top of $28 million Dayton already recommends for flood prevention in many areas of Minnesota, especially the Red River Valley.
Mayor Traci Goble says the Georgetown money would fund buyouts of 19 properties plus the construction of a permanent dike, at least 3 feet higher than the community's existing levee.
Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers added a couple of feet of temporary clay to shore up Georgetown's permanent levee system. Since then, the town has been a virtual island, surrounded by floodwaters from the Red and Buffalo rivers.
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