Some Carthage residents find their properties are now included in a flood plain. The classification means they might have to buy flood insurance, particularly if they choose to sell their properties.
Mayor Jim Nightingale says the the city is questioning whether all 60 of those properties are really in danger of flooding.
He says, “There's a few, possibly, could be removed out of it (the flood plain) and save on their insurance. So that's what we're trying to do is help some of the people.”
The city has contracted with Macomb-based Jones Corporation to assess individual properties at the owner's request. The company will charge the city $600 for each assessment. The city will then bill the homeowners. The assessments are voluntary.
Nightingale says, “That's the way we're going to go now. rather than try to do a whole study of the whole flood plain. Very, very expensive. We don't have money in the budget to do it.”
He says such a study would cost over $100,000.
The expanded flood plain is due to map updates by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Old maps were updated using modern technology such as high-resolution satellite images.