Recoup uncertain in $335,000 Marble Falls flood expenses

Connie Swinney
Staff Writer

Officials released the latest figures April 2 of flood-related expenses – approximately $335,000 – in which the city has applied for insurance and potential FEMA fund reimbursement.

So far, the city has received a preliminary disbursement check from the Texas Municipal League (TML) for $37,567 and a $15,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority for waterway flood-related debris removal.

“If at the end of this process, FEMA nor TML reimburses us for any of this money, the city is the one that is going to have to absorb that in one of their other funds,” Finance Director Margie Cardenas said at the regular city council meeting. “Either do a transfer from the water (fund) or transfer from the general fund.”

Officials said they could know more in two months about additional TML insurance disbursements after the entity completes its assessment.

On Oct. 16, a flood originating from the Llano River swept through the Highland Lakes, causing millions of dollars in damage including infrastructure in communities such as Granite Shoals, Kingsland and Marble Falls.

Within the TML insurance payment, $10,000 is scheduled to cover about $14,000 of the repairs to the city pound. Other substantial damage cost from the flood at the city's water and wastewater plants – approximately $170,000 – may benefit from federal funding.

“You have to go through your insurance first and whatever the insurance does not cover, those are dollars that may not be covered by FEMA,” Cardenas said.

FEMA officials have toured the water treatment plant three times and are expected to evaluate eligibility for as much as 75 percent of the cost . . . .

Find more on this story in the Friday, April 5 issue of The Highlander, the newspaper of record for the Highland Lakes. Send a comment or news tip to connie@highlandernews.com.