Rock Valley began demolishing the first home in its flood buyout program Thursday, October 8, marking a significant step in the community’s recovery from the June 2024 flood.
For Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo, the moment came with a precise measure of the wait.
“839 days we’ve been waiting for this day.”
Van Otterloo says the buyouts allow participating homeowners to receive their money and move forward with their lives, while demolition begins removing the damaged houses that have remained a visible reminder of the disaster, particularly when entering the community from the north.
He credited city staff for the work needed to reach this point, while acknowledging that completing the process will take time.
Loan Releases and Asbestos Affect Demolition Order
Van Otterloo says the order in which homes come down depends on which properties are ready.
“Some of the houses here have SBA loans on them. And they have to be released, and have issues with SBA releasing them. So that’s slowing us down. They all have been tested for asbestos and asbestos found in them. They have to abate that before we can move on, before we can tear them down. So that process is ongoing.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters, as well as businesses. Those loans can help repair or replace disaster-damaged homes and personal property, and some are secured by real estate. Van Otterloo says obtaining the necessary releases is delaying some local purchases.
The first homes being demolished are those without SBA loan complications or asbestos requiring removal. Van Otterloo says asbestos abatement was expected to begin this week, potentially allowing crews to move to additional properties.
The city is purchasing about five to six properties each week when possible, he says, with attorneys also working to update titles and complete the necessary paperwork.
Reimbursements Will Help Determine the Pace
Van Otterloo says there is no firm completion date for all the demolitions.
“It’s going to depend on the weather and depends on how fast we get reimbursed, because right now, the city of Rock Valley is putting all the money out to purchase these homes, and we get reimbursed, and they’re hoping that it’ll be that we’ll get reimbursed within thirty days. But as you can imagine, that’s a lot of a lot of cash that we don’t have. So our banks have been real good with working with the city, but it’s a slow, slow process. We’re working our way through it.”
The overall buyout effort was previously estimated at approximately $36 million, including property purchases, demolition, and conversion to green space. FEMA announced in July that more than $22 million through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, combined with Public Assistance funding, would support acquisition and demolition of 123 residential properties.
The cleared properties are to become open space, reducing the potential for future flood damage at those locations.
For Van Otterloo, Thursday’s demolition represents progress while also carrying an emotional cost for the people who once lived in the homes.
“We’re just very happy that we’re proceeding. It’s hard for the homeowners to watch their homes go down, but they know it’s a step in the right direction. So we’re moving forward.”
