County to discuss potential flood ordinance updates
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 20, 2018 5:50 AM
Wayne County commissioners will discuss possible changes in the county's flood ordinance when they meet today.
The meeting will get underway with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
For the most part, the changes are minor, said Assistant County Manager Chip Crumpler.
The main reason for the proposed changes is because of the new flood maps that are effective June 20, Crumpler said.
"So this is an updated ordinance that will go hand-in-hand with those June 20 set of maps," he said. "They are making some revisions, clarifying definitions.
One of the changes is to clarify how high a building's heating and air conditioning units have to be -- two feet -- above the base flood level, Crumpler said.
That was unclear in the existing ordinance, he said.
Crumpler proposes in the ordinance that there would be no construction on fill areas.
That is optional, and commissioners can decide to remove it from the ordinance, Crumpler said.
However, that provision could affect the ratings that determine the county's flood insurance rates, he said.
Commissioners are required to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance before acting on it.
In other business today, commissioners will consider motions to:
* Approve the sale of surplus property at the intersection of Central Heights and Thoroughfare roads that is jointly owned with the city of Goldsboro, as requested by the city.
* Adopt a proclamation for Organ Donation Month.
* Adopt a resolution supporting a statewide referendum on a bond issue for school facility needs.
Alan Fitzpatrick with Open Broadband will update the board on a project to provide countywide high-speed internet.
Consent agenda items include: applications for present use value; budget amendments; motion to approve the property and casualty insurance program renewal.
Public comments will be taken at 9:05 a.m. Speakers will have four minutes to comment on the topic of their choice.