ST. PAUL – Stearns County is set to receive storm-recovery aid after a $4.5 million relief package was approved Monday during a special legislative session.
The package will assist 18 counties which suffered storm damage in June. The funding will be used to help with debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructural work – including on roads and bridges. Stearns is estimated to have suffered nearly $552,000 in damages, with the statewide total at almost $18 million. The state is covering 25 percent of that total and will receive a 75-percent match from the federal government.
“Our state has the reputation of coming through to provide assistance when needed and I am pleased we lived up to the billing,” said Rep. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville. “This natural disaster caused serious problems for local governments’ budgets, but this relief package will help relieve some of the challenges we face in fully restoring our infrastructure.”
Most of the storm damage took place in western, central and southern portions of Minnesota. Another $219,141 was appropriated Monday for two southwest Minnesota counties which suffered the ice damage last April.
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