11/19/2024
Residents of the Westside Flood and Drainage District are not required to purchase flood insurance, as they benefit from the protection provided by the levee.
The district is made up of three divisions. There is a commissioner from each division. A commissioner’s term is for three years. One commissioner comes up for election each year. The commissioners play a crucial role in maintaining the levee system to ensure the safety of the residents within the district.
Following the devastating flood of 1964, a petition was signed by the majority of those affected to have a levee built. There were two lawsuits to stop the levee from being built. After much studying by the Corps of Engineers, they produced a plan that would not include the country club area and the area east of 6th Street S.W. There came another lawsuit to stop levee. Because of strong opposition from areas that were marginally flooded, the project was abandoned in early 1975.
In June 1975 another flood hit. The project was revived and the areas that were in opposition to the levee were excluded from the levee plan. The court created the district and appointed the three original commissioners to represent the district as project sponsor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The honorable Judge McKittrick ruled that the district must be run by the commissioners and the people. The money was raised using the O&M assessment to tax the people in the district. The project was completed in 1987 and turned over to the district. The district operates and maintains the project in accordance with the rules set out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and paid for by the taxpayers.
How your tax dollars are spent? Funding is as follows:
• The levee is approaching 36 years old. So normal repairs and operations use over approximately 50% of the budget.
• 9% is held in reserve for emergencies and unexpected expenses.
• 11% (approximatley $12,000) is put away so there is enough to pay for the pipe inpection that is
o required every five years. 2025 is the next inspection
• The remaining 22% is used for administration.
Unutilized funds are allocated to finalize significant long-term repair and enhancement initiatives, thereby preventing an increase in the tax burden for substantial projects in any given year
If you have any specific questions about the commissioners' roles, the history of the levee system, or anything else related to flood insurance and levee protection, feel free to ask, and I'll be happy to provide further assistance.
