County working on floodplain plans
The Franklin County Commission voted Monday to hire a consultant to help get the county’s floodplain management plan up to current guidelines.
The commission voted to proceed with a contract with John James, of Russellville. James formerly served as acting director of the state emergency management agency and has worked with the city of Russellville on grant applications in the past.
County engineer David Palmer told commissioners that the county had not met federal guidelines for years and had not been issuing building permits in floodplain areas.
He said James would get the code up to current regulations and that the county highway department and emergency management agency would work to manage the program.
New permits have to meet federal guidelines for residents to be eligible for flooding insurance.
Palmer said the plan would not affect current residents, but officials needed to know who all lives in those areas so they could be contacted if new buildings or additions were built.
James will have 90 days to build a database of the homes in the floodplain area and to develop ordinances for future projects.
In other business, the commission:
• approved a public hearing for 5 p.m. May 10 for a Community Development Block Grant for Franklin County 243 at the large courtroom at the Franklin County Courthouse.
• approved a 10-year lease on the Franklin County Highway Department facility in Red Bay.
• approved 30-year shingle bid on the Franklin County Archives and Research Center building._
• approved a $24,000 quarterly appropriation from the severance tax fund to the Franklin County Development Authority.
• approved a request to bid for a storm-warning siren.
• approved a letter of resignation from Jo Rudi Trapp of the solid waste department and approved a request to advertise for a solid waste technician position.
