County discusses flood plain regulations

By Tony Farkas
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COLDSPRING — The San Jacinto County Commissioners Court decided not to alter subdivision regulations to match new flood plain descriptions set down by the federal government.

The changes went into effect in October 2021 for commercial property, and for residential and additional commercial property in April.

At the Mark Wood, engineer for San Jacinto County, said that in April 2023, the county also will have to enforce and adopt federal building codes.

Wood said there are some changes in wording, and adding a section dealing with responsibilities of a flood plain administrator.

Judge Fritz Faulkner said that bottom line is the federal government is tired of paying out flood claims, and from now on, to build in a flood plain, insurance is mandatory, as well as adherence to building code, which mandates floors 3 feet about flood level.

“Some of these folks have been bought out 2 or 3 times,” he said. “They move back down there and pray for rain.”

Wood agreed, saying it’s a money grab by the government to reimburse themselves for floods that happened across the country.

“They’re going to make it fundamentally uneconomical to build anything close to a flood plain,” Wood said.

Faulker lamented the county’s inability to pass ordinances banning construction in flood plains.

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In other business, the county:

•approved a proposed tax rate of 0.52957, which is equal to voter approval rate, and set a public hearing on the county tax rate for 9 a.m. Aug. 31;

•approved a $6,030 contract for software from Vidanyx for District Attorney’s Office to allow defense attorneys access to filings in specific cases;

•declared office and computer equipment as salvage

•delayed again a request by Friends of Hopewell for ARPA funds

•delayed a request from Trinity Covenant Food Bank for ARPA funds;

•denied a fee waiver for a construction permit for Evergreen Church;

•approved a lot split on South Butch Arthur for Jason and Caitlin Hurst;

•approved the use of Polk Estate funds to pay for an engineered set of plans for a concession stand for the Shepherd Youth League; and

•discussed incentives as part of a lease agreement with Enterprise for county vehicles.