by Matt Hughes
J-E News Editor
The Webster County Fiscal Court took their first look at new floodplain maps issued by FEMA on Monday. The maps will officially designate which areas of the county are flood prone, making it possible for residents in those areas to purchase flood insurance.
There is a downside to this, however. Being in an official designated floodplain often decreases property value and makes property harder to sell. Under federal law, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory for all federal or federally related financial assistance for the acquisition and/or construction of buildings in high-risk flood areas.
“If we do this, it will put some people in a bad situation,” cautioned magistrate Jerry “Poogie” Brown of the Sebree area, which is one of the areas most affected by the flood maps.
“If we don’t do this people can’t buy flood insurance,” added Judge Executive Jim Townsend.
“And we wont qualify for FEMA money,” said Webster County Treasurer Paula Guinn.
According to the written report that came with the maps, there were meetings held in 2009 while FEMA was putting the maps together. But Judge Townsend said FEMA did not communicate much information with the court. They were also supposed to get back in touch with the court after their investigation, but they did not.
“In the past, for some reason, we had been left out,” Townsend said. “That was a good thing, because we still qualified with FEMA money.”
The court decided to table approval of the maps, giving the magistrates time to review them, but according to county attorney Clint Prow and Judge Townsend, they really won’t have much choice in the matter.
Maps will be kept on file at the courthouse for the public to view.
Next, the court moved on to discussion of the Blackford Bridge project. After receiving settlement money earlier this year, the time has finally arrived for the county to look at repairing the Tradewater River crossing.
“After talking with Clint Prow, it is our opinion that we need to advertise for bids,” Judge Townsend reported. “We have talked to a couple of people who do this kind of work, and it appears that it will take up to ten weeks from the time we order to get materials here.”
That could push demolition and construction back to November and December, when weather could prevent the project from being completed.
“I think with that much time, we should go ahead and bid it,” said magistrate Chad Townsend.
The magistrates voted 3-0 to advertise for bids. They will accept bids for demolition of the old bridge and/or construction of the new one. The original superstructure of the bridge will remain.
The court approved the tax rates from two special districts. The Extension District set its rates at 6.0 cents per $100 of assessed value on real property and personal property.
The ambulance district set their rates at 6.7 cents.
Jailer Terry Elder reported Jail Commissary fund balances of $32,632.63 in cash and $32,798.73 in the banking account. This reflects money that the inmates spend from the Canteen fund.
Webster County 9-1-1 Director Doug Suals reported that the county has received a grant in the amount of $84,432.06 that can be spent to replace the command control for the 9-1-1 radio console, which helps trigger the emergency sirens.