Legislature Considers Bill With Flood Relief - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Legislature Considers Bill With Flood Relief

He's heard the comment many times on the House floor in Bismarck - "I want to help the 2011 flood victims but this is not the right bill."

Now, Minot Representative Scott Louser has introduced a plan he says may be the last chance for those legislators to make good on that statement.

Louser introduced an amendment today that would make another 20-thousand dollar loan to flood victims who have already qualified for the original 30-thousand dollar rebuilders loan.

The new loan would carry the same repayment rules - two years with no payments and then repayment at a 1% interest rate.

Louser says he's heard of many people trying to rebuild who have run out of sources for money.

Also at the legislature today, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony about the water resource bill that includes more than 60 million dollars for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection project.

Minot City Public Works Director Don Jonasson told the senators the funds will help keep the project on track.

Engineers who designed the project say planning and construction on the flood protection plan will take more than a decade.