The Daily Dispatch

City officials from Breckenridge are jetting off to the nation's capital Monday to support Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., who is trying to secure $5 million in federal flood protection funds for the city.

"He just wants us out there to back him up and fight for some more money," said Mayor Cliff Barth, who received the call from Peterson Sunday.

Representatives from the city of Fargo will also attend the meeting, which will include Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-ND, and other members of a water resource committee.

"We're a long ways from being done," said Barth. "We're just going to go out there and make them understand that."

Since 1997, an estimated $39 million in federal and non-federal funds has supported flood protection for Breckenridge. By the end of the year, Barth hopes the city can finally complete work on the south side of the Otter Tail River.

Presently the Minnesota flood recovery bill is set to be at least $17 million, but that may rise, said Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth. The bill was introduced by Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, last week.

"We don't have all the costs in but it will get higher," said Marquart.

The federal government will cover between 75 to 90 percent and the state will be responsible for the local share. Initially, FEMA was set to cover 75 percent of flood damage and the state 25 percent, leaving 10 percent for the city and county.

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