This is the intellegence in my state. Gosh do you think mold will grow

[Guest guest]

This is what the idiots are doing in my state.

Officials strip bought-out homes

Nonprofit to sell salvaged materials found in NCCo residences damaged

by floods

By ANGIE BASIOUNY / The News Journal

07/23/2005With the swing of a pickax, New Castle County officials and

nonprofit volunteers began stripping the boarded-up homes in Newkirk

Estates on Friday, hoping to salvage something good out of the

tragedy floodwaters left behind.

Sinks, countertops, doors, plumbing -- whatever fixtures that didn't

rot after being soaked by the waters of nearby White Clay Creek --

will be donated to Habitat for Humanity to sell at its retail outlet.

Money from the sales will be put into future Habitat homes for needy

families.

" It seems likes a very long time ago we were right here, walking

through with boots on, looking at houses that had been destroyed by

flooding, " County Council President said, standing in the

front yard of 122 Longview Drive. " This is a great day. It looks very

peaceful here, but it wasn't very peaceful before. "

After heartfelt appeals from residents who said their homes were

constantly flooded during heavy rains, the county bought them out.

The purchase of the 15 homes in Newkirk Estates off Kirkwood Highway

near Newark and Glendale II in Bear were approved in January as part

of a $17 million budget amendment.

Several of the homes are at the end of Longview Drive, a slight

incline that stops at the edge of woods where the creek flows quietly

most of the time. Standing on high ground, it's hard to believe the

creek could rise so far out of its banks.

" I was coming down here and knocking on doors, and I saw the water, "

said Councilman Sheldon, whose district includes Newkirk

Estates. " When you see people sitting out on the lawn furniture

crying, it really hits your heart. "

County Executive Coons signed an agreement with Habitat for

Humanity to donate the construction materials for sale at ReStore,

which opened to the public last year. The arrangement is similar to

one signed by the nonprofit and the state Department of

Transportation, which helped buy out 160 homes in the flood-ravaged

Glenville neighborhood in Stanton.

Coons said the agreement has three benefits: It helps families with

affordable home-improvement materials; promotes recycling and helps

the store provide transitional employment. ReStore is staffed by He

is Pleased, a ministry for men recovering from addiction or released

from prison.

" A lot of people think a lot of different things about county

government, " Habitat executive director said. " I think

this county government is really demonstrating creative solutions to

help the people of New Castle County. "

Some neighbors wish the county would do more.

" I'm very happy that they are doing this, but we wish they would

consider our safety as well, " said Higgins, who lives on

Flora Circle next to the bought-out homes. She moved in three years

ago, not knowing her home was in a flood plain. Neighbor Johanna

Fekete said she also didn't know her Flora Circle home would flood

every time it rained heavily.

" I bought this house in November, and I'm angry because I wouldn't

have even bought it if I knew, " she said.

The county-owned homes will be demolished and the land will be used

as open space redesigned for flood mitigation. Coons said it is part

of the plan to address stormwater management throughout the county.

He plans to announce an amnesty program Tuesday for communities with

stormwater retention ponds that have fallen into disrepair.

Contact Angie Basiouny at 324-2796 or abasiouny@....

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