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County Board Releases Local NFIP Administrators  Share
The vocal majority of local property owners represented at the Wednesday, May 20 meeting of the Lawrence County Board was in favor of rescinding the county's inclusion in the National Flood Insurance Program. While the Board gave no definitive answers with regard to its stance, a vote to release co-administrators of the local program, Norm Kocher and Julie Benson, from their duties was representative of the lawmaker's division on the issue. After entering into an executive session, called by Board member Kerry Emmons, the board returned 30 minutes later with Emmons making the motion to remove Kocher and Benson from the position. Larry Stoltz seconded the motion. ''This is no more than a lynching,'' board member Pat Spidel commented. Spidel, Jesse ''Jake'' Middagh, and Gene Hays each voted 'no.' To break the tie vote, Chairman Charlie Gillespie said, ''begrudgingly, I vote 'yes.''' Kocher and Benson were appointed by the Board on October 15 to earn $583.34 each for their duties of educating the public, inspecting properties for compliance and issuing construction permits. According to Emmons, the co-administrators had ''alienated FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) personnel which puts Lawrence County at a disadvantage.''
Earlier in the meeting, a 4-2 vote to table a decision on whether or not to remain in the NFIP had seemingly temporarily closed the issue. Larry Stoltz made the motion to get more information about the NFIP. The motion was seconded by Emmons. Hays and Spidel were the two voters opposing delaying a decision in lieu of acquiring more information. The meeting was again a format for individuals to voice pros and cons of the NFIP. Those residents who had signed in to address the Board voiced opinions that were mixed with personal experiences and distorted images of the NFIP. Paul Yokum, owner of Westport Auto, has struggled with the financial aspects of maintaining his business in the flood-likely area. The business which was founded in1961 became a total loss as funding was unavailable through other sources until a small business loan was approved after the NFIP was adopted by the county. ''We could have to repay the loan if it is rescinded,'' he said. While there are homeowners who realized the devastation of the flood, others are being effected by the restrictions imposed by the NFIP. One such property owner Hollie Hamilton said that she had gone to the expense of obtaining an elevation certificate, costing $820, to discount necessities for complying NFIP standards. There were also those who were disgruntled at outrageous insurance premiums. For Steve Kocher, it would cost $10,000 a year to insure his home. That money, he said, was planned to see that his daughter got a college education. An extreme circumstance that negated maps of flood zones was pointed out by homeowner Bill Leib who said, ''we couldn't see any water from our house during the flood.'' Yet, he is considered to be living in the flood zone and subject to NFIP requirements. Statistics reported by FEMA reflect that $1.4 million has been dispersed to individuals and 395 households in the 62439 (Lawrenceville) zip code area, as well as $2.6 million loaned to rebuild small businesses since the June flood. Some positive information for the flood victims was announced by Jerry Pacholski who is the administrator of the Lawrence County Disaster Assistance Program. Pacholski said that an application for a grant through the Department of Human Services had been submitted. The $505,898.07 grant, if received, could cover the costs of services provided during the flood through the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department ($573 for 37 deputy hours), the City of Lawrenceville ($8,639 for water, street crews, and police officers), the Lawrence County Health Department ($12,007 for evacuation, sanitation, immunizations and more), the American Red Cross ($62,816 for personal items purchase vouchers), Southeastern Illinois Hope ($22,000 for appliances and ongoing flood relief), the demolition of condemned homes ($7,500 per unit, totaling $337,861.73), and administrative salary and equipment such as a computer and telephone bills ($84,000). In other business, the Board: - appointed Dr. Smith, a family practitioner, as a new member of the Lawrence County Health Department Board. - appointed Howard Lynn and Mary Hankins to the Board of Review. - appointed Robert Johnson to a three-year term as a trustee of the Denison Fire Protection District. - appointed Bruce Jones to a three-year term with the Christy Fire Protection District. - heard a report by Gillespie on the progress of lobbying for the U.S. Route 50 four-lane expansion. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 17. Barbara E. Allender is the editor of the Bridgeport Leader.
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