Homeowners in Maple Diversion Limbo - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Homeowners in Maple Diversion Limbo

Flood recovery for people in the Mouse River Valley of North Dakota is center stage today.
A committee of the state legislature spent much of the day touring the area and learning about the recovery process.

We'll show you that in a moment.
First, we introduce you to one homeowner who is in limbo with his plans for recovery.
As Jennifer Thorgramson reports, it's a state of uncertainty caused by a lack of solid information.

Even if it is bad news, it's one thing to know what you're up against.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "I always knew it was going to flood. That was no secret. But when they said it was going to be ten feet higher than 1969, that was a complete surprise."
And it's something entirely different when you feel that you've been left in the dark.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "All I want them to say is, is it yes or is it no. I don't particularly care if they buy me out or if they don't but I do want to know if it's yes or no."
That's the nightmare that homeowners are up against if their homes fall within the proposed Maple Diversion.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "I don't feel like I've progressed one inch since the water hit. We're no further ahead right now than we were when the water hit."
And "hit" it did.
Here at the Schlag home, one block away from Lincoln School grounds, water was six inches from the ceiling, about eight and a half feet deep in the garage.
(Still smells like flood)
Purchased in 1969, the home has been paid for years.
Jerry says a home loan isn't very realistic.
And at a stand still with his house, he didn't have the receipts required for the recovery fund.
And like most, no flood insurance.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "We carried flood insurance for 25 years and about two or three years ago, we were told we didn't need it."
So with $30,000 from FEMA, a fairly fixed income and a life savings, he waits in limbo.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "I've had several buyers that have been interested, yes. But I guess you have to tell them the truth, that it is in a possible buyout area. Who knows? It could or it could not. But still it's a scary situation and the minute you tell them that, the people are just not interested anymore."
So he waits.
And working with limited funds, the city waits as well.
(Jerry Schlag, Maple Diversion Resident) "What I really want to know is, the diversion, is it yes or no? The only answers I've ever gotten is, 'I don't know.'"
And in this case, the bad news, is no news at all.
In Minot, Jennifer Thorgramson, KX News.

City finance director Cindy Hemphill says right now, the Maple Diversion project IS a 'yes.'
However, funds for buyouts in the Maple Diversion area are not yet available.
Reporting live from Maple Street, Jim Olson, KX News.