The De Soto City Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday agreeing that the city would be responsible for a 25 percent match if it receives $1,479,314 from the federal government to potentially buy out six flood-prone homes.
If awarded, this would be the second time the city has been selected for funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Funds for this round would come from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) and the city would be responsible for $369,828.
“Last year, the council passed the same resolution, which was the BRIC program, a federal program for buyouts in the floodplain, and we were one of the few in the state of Missouri that got approved for this,” City Manager Todd Melkus told the City Council on Monday. “Unfortunately, once we got into this process, the feds pulled back that funding.”
He said he recently learned the city was chosen to receive 75 percent of that funding when the state was allocated $2 million this year.
“We have to go through the process, update all of our paperwork, get all of our signatures and the council has to again reiterate that they are committed to the local match for this program,” he said. “That’s why you’re seeing this again.”
Melkus said city officials have until June 1 to meet with the property owners who applied for the voluntary buyout program and get all the paperwork submitted.
“I doubt this project will commence before next year’s budget cycle,” he said.
Melkus said all the selected homes have been damaged by past floods from Joachim Creek.
In 2024, the city received $844,606.25 in state and federal funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to buy and demolish four homes, and the city was responsible for a 25 percent match of $220,001.75. Three of the properties were on Dewitt Street and one was on East Kelly Street.
According to recent flood studies, the city has experienced five floods in the past six years. The De Soto floodplain affects 354 homes, 109 commercial properties, an electrical substation, the De Soto Rural Fire Protection District and the De Soto Public Library. The depth of water in the floodplain can get as deep as 10-13 feet during a major precipitation event.