Flandreau reviews options for 19 properties affected by new FEMA flood map; city to send informational letters

City staff presented cost estimates and options to help property owners who will be newly affected by the updated 2025 FEMA flood map and asked the council whether the city should help pay to pursue Letters of Map Amendment (LOMAs) or other documentation.

Shane Waterman and city administrator Cole told the council that the city had asked IMEG to analyze 19 properties that appear to be impacted by the new flood map effective later in 2025. Waterman said a typical LOMA for an individual property runs about $1,900 to $2,500; he also presented a bundled set of professional fees for the 19 properties with line items the consultant estimated as $10,000 for surveys, $9,000 for elevation certificates and $9,000 for the LOMA work.

“Survey was $10,000. Elevation certificates was $9,000. And the LOMA amount is also $9,000,” Waterman said. Earlier in the presentation he noted that, doing every property individually at LOMA rates could total roughly $36,000, language he used to explain scale and options for cost-sharing.

Staff asked how the council wished to proceed. Cole said the city could send property owners a letter explaining the new floodplain, the options to pursue documentation or elevation certificates, and the approximate costs; council would then assess homeowner interest before deciding whether to cost-share or pay for work. Several council members said they favored first asking property owners whether they were willing to participate and to contribute some of the cost. “There should be some interest from the homeowners or landowners before we just... throw a blanket over the thing with extra money,” Alderman Berkey said.

City staff noted some properties—such as the school and county facilities—may choose not to participate because institutional owners have separate decision processes. Staff also warned that if a property has a federally backed mortgage, floodplain designation would require flood insurance; owner-occupied homes without mortgages would not be automatically required to buy insurance.

Council took no formal commitment to fund the work but instructed staff to prepare and send an informational letter to the 19 property owners that explains the mapping change, the options, the consultant cost estimates, and asks owners to indicate whether they want the city to pursue surveys or LOMA work on their behalf. Staff will compile responses and report back to council before any city funding commitment.

Ending: Staff said they will send the letters, collect responses, and return to council with a summary of interest and cost-share options for a future meeting.