Portland to be Reimbursed for Most of 2019 Ice Jam Flood Costs

City Manager Tutt Gorman has been tenacious in seeking $161,000 in reimbursement costs, from the State of Michigan, for expenses the City of Portland incurred in responding to the February 2019 Grand River ice jam and resulting flooding that threatened some of the city’s infrastructure.  Gorman’s formal requests for reimbursement over the last year-and-a-half had been denied, although Gorman, who is an Attorney, insisted that by law the City clearly qualified for reimbursement.

When Governor Whitmer signed the new bi-partisan state budget plan into law on Tuesday the $161,000 was included in the final bill.  Gorman gives local legislators, Sen. John Bizon (R-Battle Creek) and State Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland) all the credit.  “We have been pursuing the legislative path to obtain the funding since being denied twice by the Governor’s Office.” Gorman told the Beacon that the City is grateful that the request wasn’t denied again.

The final amount coming back to Portland has not been finalized yet because Ionia County also had some costs that need to be reimbursed from the funds. But most of the funds should come to the City of Portland.  Once the funds are received, they will be returned to the City’s General Fund.