Council Facing Flood Decision - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Council Facing Flood Decision

Millions of dollars in federal funds are on the line as the Minot city council makes a flood recovery decision this week.

At issue is something called the Advisory Base Flood Elevation, or A-B-F-E.

It's the policy that will set the new flood plain for the Mouse River valley in Minot.

The city would be eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal flood recovery money if it adopts the A-B-F-E proposed by FEMA.

The money could be used to buy out flooded properties or possibly move others that have been rebuilt, out of the valley.

But some people argue that the strings attached to the funds are not worth the money.

There would be a new set of building codes for any home built or rebuilt in the valley after the new flood plain is adopted.

The building codes would require a home to have it's lowest floor one foot higher than the new flood high water level.

That could mean homes having to be built up several feet above the level of neighboring homes.

Also any property purchased with mitigation dollars could never be built on again leaving vacant lots throughout the valley.

The city council is holding a special meeting Tuesday to discuss and vote on the A-B-F-E plan.

(Cindy Hemphill, Minot City Finance Director) "It's certainly a lot to think about and one thing I really wanted to emphasize, it's not about getting the money, it's about whether it's the right thing to do for the valley, is to buy out those homes to mitigate them for future flooding or not, or that flood protection may come and we won't have to this issue again. Those are really the hard questions. It's not about here's the city will be able to get more money, is this the right thing to do for the city in the long run."

City Finance Director City Hemphill said the city would be obligated to maintain all the property purchased in the mitigation program which would be a long term expense put on taxpayers.

She also said home values in the valley could also decline if and when a new flood plain map adopted.

The council will vote on the A-B-F-E Tuesday at a special city council meeting set for noon at Minot City Hall.