Salina Journal News: Floodplain map appeal sent to FEMA

Floodplain map appeal sent to FEMA

3/16/2010
By CHRIS HUNTER Salina Journal

Journal Extra

Click here to read the letter from the Salina City Commission about their FEMA appeal.

A large box of maps and 100 to 200 citizen appeals to the remapped floodplain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency is on its way to officials in Washington, D.C.

City commissioners voted unanimously Monday to send a letter of appeal by Federal Express to Kevin Long, acting chief of engineering management branch of FEMA.

"We believe the maps are not only incorrect, but inconsistent," City Manager Jason Gage said. "Most of the areas they (FEMA) did not study very closely but just put in a digital form. They need to be studied more closely."

The appeal could give the city more time to study the maps and might give citizens a temporary reprieve from purchasing flood insurance should the maps go into effect in the spring of next year.

Dean Andrew, the city's planning and zoning administrator, said the city had received many complaints, but he said more citizens should be worried about the changes, with 700 to 900 missing Letters of Map Amendment in the city.

If the map takes effect, the owners of about 22 percent of the parcels of land in the city would have to purchase flood insurance.

While the appeal could delay the maps from taking effect, Gage said he doesn't know how soon FEMA will respond to the citizens.

"They said a reasonable amount of time," Gage said. "We hope that it isn't a couple of years because we need to finalize where we are going with this."

Car wash doors OK'd

Commissioners also approved on second reading allowing new drying equipment and overhead doors for car washes at Casey's General Stores at 215 W. Crawford and 1100 E. Iron and approved window tinting as a permitted home occupation.

The commission approved a project development agreement with Siemens Industry to provide technical audit services, to study water meters in the city.

Commissioners Aaron Peck and Tom Arpke were absent from the meeting.

nReporter Chris Hunter can be reached at 822-1422 or by e-mail at chunter@salina.com.