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Press Release from Chariton Valley Planning and Development Council

After flooding in August 2007 devastated several homes in Mystic, the City secured state and federal grants to buy the properties from the homeowners with the assistance of Chariton Valley Planning and Development Council of Governments. Beginning Monday the City begins the demolition process of the damaged structures.

According to Chariton Valley’s executive director, Tracy Daugherty, eight housing units will be removed by contractors in the coming weeks by the City. Funding for demolition of the blighted houses is also provided by state and federal grants obtained by Mystic.

“The process for tearing down these houses has been a long one,” says Daugherty. “Federal guidelines for acquisition of the funds and then requirements for selection of contractors held the City back from moving faster. However, the community will see a noticeable change in the next few weeks.”

Funding was secured through Community Development Block Grants, Iowa Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources. The City of Mystic has committed to returning the lots to green space so that no one may build on properties in the floodway.