Newton County appoints certified floodplain manager, discusses use of SRA donation

The Newton County Commissioners Court voted to appoint a certified floodplain manager and to continue county staff participation in floodplain administration.

County leaders discussed the county's 2018 Flood Damage Prevention Order, the role of a floodplain administrator in maintaining participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and how the county has used a recurring $25,000 donation from the Sabine River Authority (SRA).

Commissioner Kevin Brown moved that the court appoint Tina McDaniel as the county's certified floodplain manager (CFM) and direct Courtney Lott to continue working toward CFM credentials by February; the court approved the motion. The motion included language that pay for the two positions be worked out through the judge's office and that appointees must accept the appointment.

During discussion, the court reviewed the duties of a floodplain administrator: reviewing permit applications for development in the flood plain, addressing code violations under the county's Flood Damage Prevention Order (adopted Aug. 22, 2018) and coordinating recovery activities after disasters. Staff described the county's additional local standard requiring new construction to be placed two feet above the FEMA base flood elevation and noted elevation certificates are required for development in floodways.

Court members also reviewed how SRA donations have been handled. County staff said $25,000 per year has been received from the SRA; of the most recent $25,000, $10,000 was paid to staff (previously shared between Crystal and Courtney, and now going to Courtney following staff changes) and the remaining $15,000 was deposited to the county general fund. The judge said the county has received about $75,000 from the SRA since the judge took office and that only about $29,000 of that has been budgeted for floodplain purposes; the rest remains in the general fund.

Some commissioners pressed for clearer compliance with the 2018 order, noting the order directs the commissioners court to designate the county floodplain manager and that the county should either appoint a certified manager or give the judge authority to do so. Commissioners asked that the court use the SRA funding for training and certification when appropriate; one commissioner said the county should rely on the one known certified manager in the county and use the donated funds to support certification and public education.

The court agreed to discuss personnel matters in closed session and completed the public action appointing a CFM and directing staff to pursue certification for another staff member.

The appointment and the earlier discussion leave open how the remaining SRA funds will be dedicated going forward and whether additional formal policy changes will be adopted to align the 2018 order with current staffing and certification practices.