COMMISSION EMBARKS ON NEW FLOOD PLAIN BUY-OUTS - Public Meeting Thursday

(04/06/2011)
The Calhoun Commission is embarking on a new round of flood plain buy-outs.

During the most recent buy-out, frequently flooded Calhoun property holders sold their property under the $500,000 project.

A public meeting will be held in the Calhoun County Courthouse on April 7th at 6:00 p.m. for residents of Calhoun County who have sustained flood damage during flood incidents in recent years.

Tim Meeks, with the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council says, "The purpose of this meeting is to discuss, and collect data for, the submission of a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application which will seek to obtain funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to assist Calhoun County in acquiring and removing structures from known flood hazard areas and preventing future flood loss for residents."

The Calhoun Commission says the meeting is open, but those who have received flood damage are especially encouraged to attend.

In 2006 about 50 West Fork area residents were sent letters after flooding, regarding possible buy-outs, with four appearing at a meeting to move the process along.

A large number of northern Calhoun residents attended a public meeting in Grantsville, expressing interest in the county's flood mitigation program.

While about a dozen county property holders started the buy-out process, all dropped-out but five.