Supervisors get FEMA flood recovery maps

By Mary Zielinski
Dave Patterson, the county engineer, Monday presented the supervisors with a set if FEMA flood recovery maps, a first for the county.
The maps, which show areas subject to the colloquial l00 year flood, include approximate water flood surface elevations for all the drainage areas of more than one square mile.

They had $1 billion to pay for it,” said Patterson, “and then two things happened, they found it was insufficient money and Hurricane Katrina hit

Patterson explained that the county was one of 16 previously unmapped counties (for flood). Initially, it was to have been part of a national flood plain mapping undertaken three years ago by FEMA.
“They had $1 billion to pay for it,” said Patterson, “and then two things happened, they found it was insufficient money and Hurricane Katrina hit.”
The maps also would be a step to what the county would need to join the National Flood Insurance Program, noted Patterson.
The new maps will help in determining if a building site is floodable and would assist with obtaining a flood plain construction permit through the Iowa DNR.
For the county, the maps will help in flood reconstruction especially for roads; assist the county sanitarian in locating septic systems and wells and aid with data for the county’s subdivision ordinance.
In fact, Patterson said, the maps probably will be incorporated in the county’s proposed zoning ordinance as well as used with a flood plain ordinance. The latter would prevent building in known flood plains.
Patterson said that more information about the flood data and FEMA’s final report is available at the engineer’s office, as well as copies of the maps. The maps also are on the county’s website at http//co.washington.ia.us/departments/sudiv/Resources/index.htm
In other business, the board:
•set a public hearing for 9:45 a.m. November 18 regarding a general obligation loan agreement. The move is part of the county’s borrowing funds to complete some capital improvement projects, mainly at Orchard Hill;
•approved a resolution to allow the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) to apply for an approximately $50,000 hazardous mitigation grant for the county. ECICOG also will be the grant administrator if the county receives the funds;
•approved a $4,800 contract with Consolidated Utility Services, Inc. to handle utility line locates. The fee is based on 100 hours of service. In addition, there could be supplement charges;
•approved a letter of support for the City of Washington’s grant application to the Iowa Department of Economic Development for housing rehabilitation funds; and
•canvassed the November 4 General Elections.