Minot Sends Out Voluntary Buyout Letters | Video

KMOT-TV | 4/6/2012

Roads and houses that were once feet under water now stand alone in various parts of Minot. Eventually, they may not stand at all.

"I guess we`re very pleased about the status of where things are," said David Waind, Minot City Manager.

If everything goes according to plan, at least 108 homes could belong to the city of Minot. These homes will then be knocked down as part of the flood protection plan. Before demolition begins, the city has to get the okay from the 108 homeowners who receive the offers.

"This is a voluntary acquisition process. So that those folks who during any part of this, if they choose not to go forward with this, they don`t have to," said Waind.

Some residents aren`t on board with the way things are panning out.

"I don’t know how or what to do, everything is just so up in the air," said resident Jodi Blake.

Blake owns a house and a business on 1st Avenue Northwest, both of which have been offered up for a buyout, but there are a few factors standing in the way.

"There`s just no sure sign of when we would get the money," she said.

Blake added that if she moved, business would be affected and the money would be needed quickly.

The money she’s concerned about is her share of the almost $24 million provided by the State Water Commission to acquire homes.

"The State Water Commission has been very cooperative and we`re very pleased, and we believe this is the first big step of many that will help us with the recovery," Waind said.

The Engineering and Public Works Department determined what houses should go, based on what properties gave them the most hassle last year building dikes.

For a complete list of homes visit www.rallyminot.com/resources/.

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