CEDAR FALLS - The sign at Mr. G's hasn't changed since June 10, when rising waters covered roads and severed North Cedar from the outside world.

"Welcome to N. Cedar island" it proclaims. The other side declares the local bar is there for its patrons come hell or high water.

Like the sand-covered front yards on Clair Street and the numerous cleaning and construction vans parked in driveways, the sign is just one of countless reminders of the intensity of the flood of 2008.

It's been a trying month for those whose lives were turned upside down by the record flood. Early on June 11, the Cedar River crested at 102.13 on the Cedar Falls river gauge, nearly six feet above the previous record flood.

Karen Fuller lives on Eddie Street, off Lone Tree Road with her son, Troy. While cleaning up after the flood Troy stepped on a nail, leading to an infection in his bone, putting him out of work ever since. It also meant they lost his help in moving things out of their flooded finished basement and cleaning up the house.

Even a month later, Karen Fuller spends every day cleaning items from the house. They haven't started work in the garage yet.

"We're just cleaning up. It's slow going but you just keep at it," she said.

Friday marked the end of the city's debris removal contract with Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck. For the past several weeks piles of soggy debris carried out to the streetside were quickly removed by PCI. From here on out, debris removal will remain free for flood victims, but city crews and temporary contractors will handle the work. Property owners are encouraged to call City Hall to have debris collected.

This week removal of the long row of sandbags lining the top of the downtown flood levee started in earnest.

"I think the plan all along was the sandbags were the least of our worries," said Ron Gaines, city director of developmental services.

The garbage transfer station and recycling center have long been repaired and reopened after the Public Works facility flooded.

Cedar Falls Utilities has a long road ahead. Never had floodwaters entered the building, but flood protection failed and the building had four to eight feet of water.

The utility board of trustees had considered permanently moving its operations elsewhere to avoid future flooding problems, but finally decided to boost flood protection and rebuild on site. Damages were estimated at $25 million.

"A new building somewhere else could only be paid for with a significant rate increase. Many of our customers are dealing with the expense of flood and tornado cleanup, and we do not want to raise their utility rates on top of what they've already been hit with," said CFU General Manager Jim Krieg. "Rebuilding on Utility Parkway is by far the lowest cost option for our customers and that was the key factor in our decision."

Bids for reconstruction will be awarded in August. Since the flood, CFU departments, including customer service, have been operating out of a building at 1025 Technology Parkway in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park.

In North Cedar and Cedar City areas hit by the floods, dealing with the aftermath is still a full-time job.

Some live in tents or campers on their properties. Others still stay with family members or in motels. A few homes have already been razed.

For many homeowners, the cleanup phase remains in full swing, but more and more are starting to repair their homes, or at least evaluate whether they will try for a buyout or work to rebuild.

Frank and Pam Gibson have been meticulously cleaning their home on Cameo Street after it dried out from the 48 inches of water they had in the flood.

A month later, the interior of their home is torn down to the studs, except for a strip of drywall preserved around the top third of the walls. The flooring has been removed and the house sprayed down with bleach. When they can have the windows open, the dank scent of the flood's aftermath can't be detected, but Pam said it still returns when they have to close up the house.

The Gibsons bought a fifth-wheel camper to live in while they put their lives back together.

After the flood they thought about their options. They have lived in the house for two decades and put a lot of work into the house, yard and outbuildings. But they would like to get away from the flood zone.

"We've pretty much decided we will rebuild if we can raise it up. That way, even if we want to move in a few years, we can do it on our own terms," Pam said.

Jim Murley wasted no time in getting his Jaclyn Street home back in order. Murley lives on a street just east of North Cedar School. The newer homes that make up the neighborhood were built on fill material that elevated them out of the 100-year flood plain. But this flood eclipsed the 100-year mark, and Murley had three feet of water in his home.

Murley got his family's vehicles out of harm's way at the last minute; water lapped over the hood of his truck when he drove it out.

As soon as he could return to the house he started cleaning up the muck and tearing out drywall.

To enter the house today, one would hardly know it had ever flooded. A construction worker by trade, Murley did much of the work himself. New wiring has been completed, drywall was replaced and painting was completed earlier this week. A new furnace and water heater are already in place and kitchen cabinets and appliances should come in soon.

"We used FEMA, but that only goes so far," Murley said. The Murleys received $15,000 from FEMA, and that's what they used to get the reconstruction moving.

Murley made quick work of the system, getting his FEMA grant in order and working through city construction processes. But others have struggled. Many vented frustrations at a Monday meeting of the City Council, saying they kept receiving conflicting information when they needed answers.

In response, the city set up a number of dates for staff members to be on site at North Cedar school to give a coordinated response to questions from flood victims.

The first such meeting happened Thursday. Gaines said the format made it easier to get answers to people.

"Every property is unique. It's a better format because we can walk them through it, and it's all on a case-by-case basis," Gaines said.

In the case of Jim Taylor, it's still a matter of cleaning up and drying out his Big Woods Road home. He had elevated the house 52 inches in 2003 to avoid flood problems. It didn't save his home. His early efforts were cleaning out the main floor. This week he worked at pulling items out of the muddy mess in his basement.

"You just do as much as you can, take a break now and then and keep at it," Taylor said.

Contact Jon Ericson at (319) 291-1461 or jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com.