WATERLOO -- The city is seeking to use state flood relief money to acquire two flood-ravaged downtown buildings and a frequently wet salvage yard on Black Hawk Road.

City Council members voted unanimously Monday to approve a list of eight projects they hope to fund using Waterloo's share of a $22 million community disaster grant pool signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver in February.

The proposals, which require state approval, include $200,000 for the MidwestOne Bank building at 405 Jefferson St.; $100,000 for the Operation Threshold building at 300 W. Third St.; and $250,000 for the Litzkow auto salvage operation at 1720 Black Hawk Road.

Other projects on the list include repairs to flood gates, improvements to prevent future flood damage in City Hall and a feasibility study for a levee to protect Riverfront Stadium. The state already has approved $217,800 for the city to purchase a number of small portable pumps to be used to relieve storm sewer pressures during floods.

The pumps along with seven other projects in the application approved by council members would come to more than $1.1 million, said City Planner Aric Schroeder, "which is significantly larger than the anticipated funding" of $616,617.

"All projects may not be initially funded through this program," Schroeder said. "But this will create the potential that an unfunded project could move forward if additional funds become available."

The community disaster grant dollars can be used to purchase property not eligible for a flood-related buyout through the Federal Emergency Management Agency program.

Both downtown buildings in Waterloo's request were damaged when floodwater backed up in the downtown area last June and face large repair bills. The city hopes to use the sites as part of the downtown master plan redevelopment, including the RiverLoop Expo area and other public amenities.

The city has been attempting to relocate the Litzkow yard, which is subject to flash flooding from Black Hawk Creek, for nearly two decades.

"Due to the use of the site as a salvage yard, the city ¦ has high concerns for automobile fluids, freon and other contaminants being released into Black Hawk Creek and the Cedar River," the application states.

The plan calls for fixing the leaky Fletcher Avenue flood gates at Hope Martin Park, repairing a flood gate arch near Sixth Street on the Cedar River's west side and installing sump pumps in the basement of City Hall, which took on water during the June floods.

Meanwhile, the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to apply through the same program for $190,000 to replace an emergency generator at the Country View care center and $21,000 for a sump pump in the courthouse basement. The county is expecting to get $203,000 from the grant program, but included a request for another $250,000 for flood-damaged property acquisition in case the generator and sump pump requests are denied.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577

or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.