This will likely be the flood plain of the future, after mitigation,
ordinance
enforcement - no loans for construction on the flood plain,
no flood insurance
available
By Bob Weaver
The future of flat land along the county's streams is facing big changes in the next
few years.
Flood plain ordinance enforcement will be on the Calhoun Commission agenda
January 5.
Robert Perry, National Flood Plain Coordinator for West Virginia, will be addressing
the commission over compliance problems, issuing permits and enforcement
obligations on the county's flood plains.
Perry contacted the commission after Calhoun Chronicle Reporter Lisa Minney
called attention to flood plain problems in a recent article and discussed her
concerns with enforcement officials.
Minney indicated the Town of Grantsville has failed to enforce a similar ordinance,
and has apparently not issued any permits.
At least one-third of Grantsville rests on a flood plain,
the town yet to enforce
their own flood plain ordinances, with its existing housing and businesses
destined for decay with little replacement
Calhoun's flood plain ordinance was passed in 1991, and was "mandated" throughout West Virginia, or else federal funds would be cut.
Violation of the ordinance calls for fines, or in some cases, the removal of a land-fill
or building. Non-compliance could mean FEMA and other federal agencies will no
longer provide financial relief.
The state administration has not publicly endorsed the importance of strict
enforcement of the flood plain management ordinances enacted by county and
municipal governments under the National Flood Insurance Program.
Technically, there may be hundreds of ordinance violations along Calhoun
waterways, including houses, churches, small businesses and fills.
Minney was placed on the January commission agenda to discuss the problem, but
has said she is not a complainant, but just wants people in the county concerned
with flood issues to speak to the commissioners themselves.
"Not one penalty has ever been imposed, that's not a complaint, that's a fact,"
saying only ten building permits have been issued. County Clerk Richard Kirby, who
has been serving as the Flood Plain Coordinator, said "If someone wants a permit
they can come to my office, and I will process the permit, but I will not be the
policemen on the issue."
The enforcement of flood plain ordinances in West Virginia have been haphazard,
according to a study in 2001-02 and is laden with problems from inadequate
mapping to the lack of funding to hire professional people who can appropriately
evaluate compliance. In one county, the Flood Plain Coordinator, was the Dog
Warden.
The current flood plain is defined in mapping done in 1970, based on 100 year
flooding.
Minney says at issue is the failure of the county or the Town of Grantsville to
enforce flood plain changes, land filling or new construction along the Little
Kanawha River, the West Fork of the Little Kanawha River and dozens of other
properties around smaller streams.
The Apostolic Faith Tabernacle at Cabot Station is built on a flood plain earth
fill, along with dozens of other projects, residential and commercial,
along the LK, the West Fork of the LK and smaller county streams
Minney did not respond to questions from the Hur Herald, regarding flood plain
issues, more particularly concerns she verbalized about alleged violations by
Grantsville businessman Steve Satterfield.
Businessman Satterfield has filled and built on a lot along the river
Satterfield recently earth-filled a lot beside the Little Kanawha River above
Grantsville, then constructing a metal building for his business.
The ordinance disallows filling or construction if such could raise the river level
one foot during flood conditions.
Satterfield and the Morris family, Minney's employer, have been in an ongoing
dispute for several years about which party would build a convenience store in
Grantsville.
Calhoun's Industrial Park, the property sold in the 1980's by the Morris family,
has never attracted a productive occupant because it is on the flood plain,
although parts of the park have been filled and raised
Calhoun's Industrial Park, near Satterfield's lot, was developed before the
ordinance was enacted, but was also built on the flood plain, parts of which have
been filled for some limited use.
West Virginia has been beleaguered by more frequent flooding in recent years,
particularly in the narrow valleys of southern West Virginia. Flood plain
enforcement will eliminate many towns completely.
At least one-third of the Town of Grantsville residential units are on the plain,
including the aging municipal pool.
The Calhoun Commission is moving forward with implementing a mitigation
program for property owners or businesses that want to sell-out their property on
county flood plains.
The Herald will publish Letters to the Editor with opinions regarding flood plain enforcement.
Coming: "Valley Plains Of The Future"
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