More residents to be in floodplain [Richmond Register, Ky.]

June 13--RICHMOND --

The Madison Fiscal Court approved new FEMA flood maps Tuesday, but they did not have much choice. The federal government already has spoken.

However, Madison County residents who will be in a floodplain have until Oct. 2 to purchase flood insurance at a much lower premium than if they wait until after the official passage date.

"It's not an option, whether (the court) adopts the map or not," said Duane Curry, Madison County's planning and development administrator. "The federal government has said 'These are your maps, and here they are.'"

The FEMA maps, which were first introduced in 2009, reflect the areas that are considered "high risk," which means there is at least an annual 1-percent chance that a flood will occur in that area.

The maps include an additional 350 homes in Madison County that previously have not been considered to be in a flood hazard area.

"They need to procure flood insurance now because they can be grandfathered in if the property is not currently in a floodplain area," Curry said.

Residents could save more than $2,000 a year by purchasing flood insurance now, according to Magistrate Greg King.

"If you get it now, it's going to be $300 a year," said Magistrate Greg King. "If you wait, it's going to be $3,000 a year."

Letters have been mailed to affected residents reminding them not to procrastinate, Curry said.

Madison Judge/Executive said he was upset because Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives came to the community, allowed citizens a chance to protest but continued to carry out their own agenda.

"It was one of those deals where you're darned if you do and darned if you don't," Clark said. "If we don't (approve the FEMA maps), we won't be eligible to get FEMA funding in the case of a disaster, which would be devastating in the case of an ice storm or anything else."

Visit www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/Scripts/bfe_main.asp for a detailed listing of FEMA's new base flood elevations. For more information about purchasing flood insurance prior to Oct. 2, county residents can call Curry at 624-4780, Berea residents should call Paul Schrader at 985-8528 and Richmond residents should call Jason Hart at 623-1000.

County acts at bonding authority for First Christian Church

renovation

The court voted unanimously Tuesday to serve as the bonding authority for First Christian Church, which soon will begin a renovation process costing about $2.6 million.

Charles Musson, the attorney representing the church, assured the court that "it's the total responsibility of First Christian Church to pay off these bonds."

Before a bond resolution is introduced to the court, the church needed the court to simply go on record stating it supports the project, Musson said.

"We will ask for the court to adopt the bond resolution later," he said.

The bond resolution is asking that the county be the bonding authority for a $3 million transaction, however, that leaves plenty of "cushion room," according to Dr. Glenn Birkett, chairman of the church's building commission. He estimates the project will cost about $2.6 million.

"When we come back with a bond resolution, we'll have a set amount," Birkett said.

Church members already have raised about $840,000 by way of pledges, he said.

In other business:

--The final reading of an ordinance was heard changing the land use classification of property owned by Bobby and Marilyn Garrett at 2410 Big Hill Road from community agriculture to general commercial.

--Clark and Kathy Edison were re-appointed to serve on the EKU Center for the Arts Community Operations Board.

--Kenny Skaggs was hired to serve on the concrete crew for the Madison County Road Department.

The next meeting of the fiscal court is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.June 26 at the Madison County Courthouse.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@

richmondregister.com

or 624-6608.

___

(c)2012 the Richmond Register (Richmond, Ky.)

Visit the Richmond Register (Richmond, Ky.) at richmondregister.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services