County may buy land prone to flooding

CELINA - Mercer County officials are seeking federal funding to acquire, demolish and convert to green space a property in Butler Township prone to flash-flood damage.

County Emergency Management Agency director Mike Robbins, working in conjunction with Ohio Emergency Management Agency, has applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Unified Hazard Mitigation Program Project grant.

If the grant is awarded and the owners agree to proceed, FEMA would pay 75 percent of the cost to purchase the property on St. Anthony Road, raze the structures and forever deed the land as county-owned green space, Robbins told the newspaper.

Robbins has estimated the total project cost at $241,515. If everything falls into place, eligible in-kind work of numerous county agencies would count toward the 25 percent local match with the property owners picking up the rest of the bill, Robbins said.

The property owners' name and address would become public once they agree to proceed, Robbins said, adding a formal appraisal and asbestos assessment still need to be completed.

"What the grant would be for is to buy that property out," Robbins said. "We would tear down the house and make green space out of it, and there'd be a deed restriction where nothing could be built there again, so you would never have (flash flood) damage again."

In compliance with the Natural Environmental Policy Act, a notice was posted informing the public of potential federal actions that affect flood plains or wetlands. Those interested can send their comments on the project in writing to Duane Castaldi, Regional Environmental Officer, FEMA Region V, 536 S. Clark St., Sixth Floor, Chicago, IL 60605 or by email to Duane.Castaldi@fema.dhs.gov.

The Unified Hazard Mitigation Program aims to prevent future losses of lives and property, implement state or local hazard-mitigation plans, enable mitigation measures to be implemented during immediate recovery from disaster and to provide funding for identified and approved hazard-mitigation projects.

Robbins said this is the first time he's been involved in such a project. With the assistance of FEMA money, Fort Recovery officials in late 1990s completed a $1.5 million relocation of two apartment houses, the town's fire department and more than 20 other buildings. The facilities were moved to higher ground after the area had flooded several times. The project also replaced the former buildings' locations with green space.

Seven property owners, most of whom live on St. Anthony Road in Butler Township between Coldwater Creek and the railroad tracks, have spoken out about flash flooding over the last six years or so.

The FEMA application involves one of the seven properties that have experienced flash flooding over the years, Robbins said. It's the only property eligible for FEMA funding because the other properties aren't in the floodplain designated by FEMA, Robbins said.

"They've had flash flooding twice (in 2011 and 2015)," Robbins told the newspaper. "The one (property) we're looking at is the one that's definitely had the most damage. It was over $100,000 each time."

Local officials last year worked to update the county's Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, which among other things could help local governments qualify for federal funding to pursue mitigation activities before disasters strike. The home owners spoke about flash flooding of their properties during the discussions.

They said they believe the intensified, recurring flooding is partially caused by a nearby culvert, a circle of stone intended to curb erosion where Coldwater Creek enters Grand Lake and increased residential development.

The flooding has repeatedly damaged their homes, likely decreased their property values and caused much duress, the owners said.

During the update process, officials learned that flooding - flash flooding, accumulation of runoff and overflowing banks - is the county's top natural hazard concern, followed by wind damage from both straight-line winds and rotational winds or tornadoes.

Further down the list is topsoil erosion from wind and water, road closures during blizzards and utility outages.