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The hearing is part of the process to obtain a general debt loan not to exceed $600,000 for improvements at the Orchard Hill facility and Conservation Center. The final terms of the loan and assessment have not been determined.
County Engineer David Patterson presented the FEMA Flood Recovery Maps and Final Report to the Board. The 16 panels or maps for the county provide the approximate areas, which would be inundated by the 1 percent chance flood event or previously titled a 100-year flood. The maps provide details for all drainage areas greater than one square mile.
The maps were prepared by FEMA for 16 counties, which were declared Federal Disaster Areas and had no previous flood plain mapping. Patterson who is a member of the Rebuild Iowa Commission worked with Task Force for Agriculture and Environment and that group together with the Flood Plain Management Task Force had urged FEMA officials to prepare the mapping to assist with recovery efforts.
These maps cannot be utilized by the county or communities for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. Patterson explained that the maps can help individual property owners determine the flood plain areas at specific locations. The maps will be helpful in any flood reconstruction areas specifically damaged roads and supporting structures. The County Sanitarian will utilize the maps to safely place wells and septic systems.
The maps will also be used by property owners and developers when submitting subdivision plats. Copies of the maps area available at the County Engineer's Office for the basic county cost and also on the County Web site: http://co.washington.ia.us/ at the Subdivision section under Departments.
The board approved a resolution allowing ECICOG to apply for a Hazardous Mitigation grant on behalf of Washington County. A multi-jurisdictional plan will be prepared for the County and most communities in the county to formulate action plans for a wide variety of conditions and disasters. With the plans in place, Federal relief funds will be available to aid in the clean-up and recovery efforts.
An annual contract with Consolidated Utility Services, Inc. for $4,800 was approved by the board. The contract provides the service through control of Iowa One Call to locate the recently installed fiber optic cables linking the current communications center with the Orchard Hill facility. The firm, which is associated with Great Plains Locator Service, will provide the service on a renewable contract with the county and the contract has provisions for fee adjustment based upon the prior years' service calls.
The board approved sending a letter of support for an Iowa Department of Economic Development grant application for housing rehabilitation in the City of Washington.
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 18 at 9:30 a.m.
