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Leaders of 4 states hit by flooding meet again with Corps

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April 27th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — The leaders of several Midwest states hit recently by flooding along the Missouri River say they’ve received assurances from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the states will “have a seat at the table” when it comes to river management decisions.

The Republican governors of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri and Kansas’ Democratic lieutenant governor all met with Corps officials in the western Iowa city of Council Bluffs on Friday, the second such meeting since last month’s devastating floods.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the states are considering pushing for formation of a Missouri River management commission — similar to the Mississippi River Commission — that would include representatives from the states.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also said repair contracts for three of the river’s larges breaches have already been awarded and that some of the repairs could be finished as early as July.