Granite Falls Better Prepared For Flood Threat
By Bruce Hagevik, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- One Minnesota town hit hard by floods over the years hopes it's better prepared this spring.
Nearly $20 million in flood mitigation projects have been completed to better protect Granite Falls, Minn.
"We've also just purchased another 100,000 sandbags. We're having a public meeting with residents this Thursday evening," said Dave Smiglewski, the mayor of Granite Falls.
Smiglewski says people have been moved away from flood prone areas of town.
"There's been buyouts and removals of several homes along the Minnesota River and we have an overflow channel in Granite Falls," he said.
Bids are being taken on building a new water treatment plant away from the river at an estimated cost of $10 million.
WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Interviews Dave Smiglewski
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In the past up to 750,000 sandbags were laid mostly by volunteers.
The Minnesota River could approach near-record highs again this spring.
