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Omaha, Bellevue, Sarpy County to face bills for levee plan

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha, Bellevue and Sarpy County will be asked to pay more than $2 million each for levee repairs around Offutt Air Force Base.

The Omaha World-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1P12xnL ) that the $25 million repair project is aimed at recertifying 19 miles of levees that protect the Offutt area from Missouri River flooding. The cost-sharing figures are part of a proposal being presented Tuesday to the Sarpy County Board.

Officials have been working to recertify the levees since 2010. If they aren't brought up to stricter federal standards, the land they protect would revert to flood plain status, including the base and a number of other properties that have been targeted for development.

Officials have said that development becomes all but impossible if the land behind the levees reverts to flood plain.

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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com

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