JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The Board of Mayor & Aldermen of Jasper has recently passed the second and final reading of Ordinance 452 during its October city meeting.
Ordinance 452 was previously discussed and approved during last month’s meeting. The ordinance pertains to updated floodplain mapping within the community, alongside increased fees for public notices. This month’s final reading not only applies to the updated mapping of floodplains throughout Jasper, but also given insurance rates for properties located in different zones. City Attorney Mark Raines Jr. noted that the updates were passed along to the city from the state by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for approval, with the ordinance being mandated for passage by the federal agency.
“FEMA has mandated this. We don’t really have any discretion in it. We have to approve it and it’s got to be exactly the way they say it,” said Raines Jr.
City Mayor Jason Turner explained that the board is required to pass the ordinance in order to allow flood insurance coverage for residents residing in a flood zone. Mark also added that FEMA had a set deadline to which the ordinance was required to be passed, prompting a time crunch for its approval.
The ordinance allows for the city’s floodplain mapping to be updated in order to remain on par with ongoing federal efforts to update all mapped flood zones throughout the country. Additionally, all flood insurance rates will likely remain at a flat rate but vary depending upon an insurance company’s requirements for a home or business. The ordinance will also allow for an increase in fees for public notices, as well as introduce a new fee for flood certifications within Jasper’s city limits.
“We don’t determine what the flood zone elevation is for the base flooding or anything like that. That’s all done through the federal government,” explained Mark.
Ordinance 452 was unanimously approved by Jasper’s city board. It is officially set go into effect on Friday, November 28.