DUNKERTON - Two Northeast Iowa towns received $50,000 each to help rebuild after last year's deadly tornado, though neither community was directly hit.

Not one house, business or public structure was damaged in Dunkerton or Fairbank by the EF5 tornado May 25, 2008, that killed eight people and caused millions of dollars in property damage in Butler, Black Hawk and Buchanan counties. A few tree limbs may have come down and some debris might have settled within the city limits of Dunkerton and Fairbank, but officials in both communities say that is about it. The tornado passed more than a mile from each town.

Yet, the Rebuild Iowa Office in early June issued checks to both towns. City leaders didn't ask for the money and aren't sure why they got it, but they plan on putting the cash to good use.

"It took me by shock. That's why I called down there … to see if we were entitled to it," Dunkerton Mayor Mark Brandes said. "I remember first thinking that the tornado impacted rural Dunkerton."

Members of the Dunkerton City Council batted around ideas about how to use the money Monday during a meeting. Installing a tornado siren north of town near the Woodland Estates mobile home park and other rural residences was one of the more popular ideas.

The Rebuild Iowa Office announced June 9 that seven communities would split $1.5 million. The others were:

Hazleton, $50,000

New Hartford, $200,000

Parkersburg, $750,000

Marion County (to benefit Attica), $25,000

Delaware County (to benefit Oneida), $25,000

Tina Potthoff, a spokesperson for Rebuild Iowa, said the Iowa Legislature approved the funds with no application process and with Gov. Chet Culver's blessing. The money came from the state's general fund.

"Since it's state money, it comes with less restrictions than federal money," Potthoff said.

When state officials realized all of the $10 million set aside for unmet needs wouldn't be spent - part of an initial $56 million emergency spending bill for disaster relief - money was reallocated to the seven communities.

"The process to rebuild our state will take years, not months," said Culver in a prepared statement announcing the grants. "So, one year after the tornadoe, our efforts continue. The commitment of over a million dollars to these communities will directly help people who have been, and continued to be impacted by the tornadoes of 2008."

Ron Woods, a member of the Fairbank City Council, said residents in his town were not directly affected by the twister. Like Dunkerton, Woods said, the town's volunteer firefighters and emergency workers assisted their rural neighbors after the storm, though.

"It's one of those deals that you get it and use it best you can to help the surrounding area," he said.

Permanent generators to power the fire department and City Hall could be a possibility, Woods said. The tornado interrupted electrical service in Fairbank, and the city relied on small portable generators. Large, permanent generators would provide more reliable power, he said.

Assistance

Potthoff said the disbursement of funds did raise questions. People wondered why and how the money was allocated, especially to towns not directly hit, and why other communities were left out.

Potthoff said the communities were chosen because the National Weather Service cited the towns as being affected by tornadoes.

The grants came amid shrinking state revenues and as lawmakers made drastic cuts to education and the judicial system, laying off workers to stabilize the state's budget. Many lawmakers expressed dismay during the past legislative session about spending and a dwindling reserve fund. And yet $100,000 went to two communities that didn't ask for money or need it to rebuild.

Sen. Bill Heckroth, D-Waverly, voted for the funding. His district includes Parkersburg and New Hartford, which he said need assistance.

Heckroth said lawmakers felt the communities in question did not receive sufficient federal help and needed more money. Funds were allocated by the Rebuild Iowa Office based on damage, need and previous government support, he added.

Heckroth said it is not a perfect spending plan, but relief was needed fast and intentions were good.

The funds must be used or obligated for rebuilding efforts no later than June 30, 2010, according to the governor's office.

"We were told these communities had tornado damage. … We thought they got short-changed," Heckroth said. "How do you define a community? I don't have the answer to that one."

Heckroth noted if communities don't feel they deserve the money, they have the option to pass it along to those that do.

Potthoff said the money could also be used for any disaster recovery efforts or disaster mitigation. She said the legislation was written broadly, allowing flexibility.

Heckroth wants the towns to use the money appropriately.

"We hope they would instead of considering it a windfall and sticking it in a sock someplace," he said.