“I don’t want people’s flood rates to go up. That would be traumatic,” Kolsun said.
By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Parsons Mayor Bruce Kolsun addressed concerns surrounding Tucker County no longer having a Flood Plain Manager in the county. Mayor Kolsun spoke during the Good of the Order segment of the City of Parsons Council’s regular April 2nd meeting. According to Kolsun, he was aware that letters notifying residents of an increase for flood rates has already been sent out that outlined a 10 percent increase in rates. “I don’t want people’s flood rates to go up,” Mayor Kolsun said. “That would be traumatic.”
Kolsun said that due to the absence of a Flood Plain Manager in Tucker County, letters have been sent to residents informing them of the 10 percent increase in rates. “Remember that we no longer have a Flood Plain Manager in this county anymore,” Kolsun said. “Therefore, flood rates will be going up for our participants, people who have flood insurance, 10 percent. They already got letters.”
Parsons City Recorder Tim Auvil said the issue lies in the Community Rating System. According to FEMA, the CRS Program is a voluntary incentive program that, “encourages and recognizes community flood plain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).” Over 1500 communities participate across the country, according to FEMA. “It not just necessarily revolved around officers, but the Community Rating System, which is the CRS program, and in order to qualify for that you have to have a Flood Plain Manager or else the application is denied by the State for the discount,” Auvil said. “That’s what it all revolves around.”
Kolsun said he understood that citizens would be upset over the rate increase, but he was trying to establish a cooperative agreement with other counties to share a Flood Plain Manager, as an option to assist in mitigating the costs. “I’m trying to do something,” Kolsun said. “If we get somebody there is going to be a lot of paperwork to fill out.”
Both Mayor Kolsun and Parsons Police Chief Kevin Keplinger discussed the possibility that Code Enforcement Officer Rosier may obtain the necessary training to become a flood plain manager. Other potential candidates included Council Member Tim Turner suggesting Tucker County OEM Director and Parsons Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin White.
However, both Kolsun and Keplinger said that it would be likely be a long and difficult process to complete. Auvil said it would involve two years of training. Keplinger said the first Level One certification would be offered this fall.
Keplinger said that the position will be intensive with a lot of time and effort involved. According to Keplinger, the flood plain has to be examined in every building permit submitted and considered in regards to every new construction in the City. “There is going to be quite a bit involved with this,” Keplinger said. “One thing to keep in mind, even if we find somebody who’s willing to try to do this, there’s going to be quite a bit of time involved with them and effort with them because every building permit we have, we have to go through…Its going to be a day by day, sometimes several times a day type of position.”
According to Kolsun, there are only five people in the State with flood plain management certification.
