| The enforcement of flood plain ordinances is on the agenda at Monday's Calhoun
Commission meeting starting at 4 p.m.
The ordinance calls for the issuing of a permit for most any building activity or
earth change on the 100-year flood plain. Only certain types of construction of
land filling is allowed.
Robert Perry, the state's director of the National Flood Plain Insurance Program,
will be present to advise the commission regarding increased enforcement.
Lisa Minney, reporter for the Calhoun Chronicle, has asked county citizens to
present their concerns regarding the lack of enforcement of a flood plain
ordinance passed by the commission in 1991.
She has declined to speak regarding her concerns at Monday's meeting, although
to date she is the only complainant.
Minney, who has taken a pro-active stance regarding the issue, has written in the
Calhoun Chronicle "Who is responsible?" for the lack of enforcement, indicating
the Flood Plain Coordinator and the county commission have failed their duty.
Lack of enforcement could mean property owners could no longer obtain flood
insurance, or the county be denied other assistance through FEMA.
"Not one penalty has ever been imposed. That's not a complaint. That's a fact,"
she said, indicating the commission should use its legal power to fine violators,
or in some cases, require illegal construction or land-full changes be removed
from the 100-year flood plain.
The violators are along the Little Kanawha, the West Fork of the Little Kanawha
and numerous other streams, who have erected buildings, made changes or
land-filled without a permit.
Perry is expected to advise the commission regarding compliance issues.
The Town of Grantsville has also adopted a flood plain ordinance, which has not
been enforced.
While flood plain ordinances have been passed in nearly all West Virginia
counties, compliance issues are a problem. Flood Plain Coordinators are
expected to have technical skills related to compliance, and in many counties
the coordinators are the Directors of the Office of Emergency Services,
assessors, or others who volunteer to fill the position.
Flood plain mapping, which was done about 1970, has become a legal issue in
some counties. The flood plain map along the Little Kanawha in Calhoun County
is likely based on flooding prior to the construction of the Burnsville Lake and
dam.
A public meeting regarding another flooding issue is scheduled after the regular
meeting at 5 p.m. The meeting will evaluate interest by county property owners
to participate in flood plain mitigation, where the government "buys out"
frequently flooded property.
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