Commissioners review FEMA corrective action plans for two floodplain properties; county to use ARPA funds for one buyout
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Summary
Trumbull County planning staff presented two voluntary corrective‑action plans tied to a 2020 FEMA audit to cure floodplain violations; staff said previously authorized ARPA funds would cover one property remediation estimated in the packet at $18,769.
Planning staff asked commissioners to concur with two voluntary corrective action plans that respond to a 2020 FEMA audit identifying five properties in violation of floodplain regulations.
Andrew Spethgoods of the planning commission described agenda item 15, a plan for a Meadowbrook property in Warren Township. The staff recommendation is to purchase the property, demolish structures, remove utilities and restore the parcel to native floodway to eliminate the violation. Spethgoods said the sheriff or owner was cooperative and neighboring owners had expressed interest in acquiring portions but would be constrained from future development in the floodway.
Spethgoods said the materials list a fair‑market price and associated fees; the packet shows a remediation total of $18,769 for the item — staff asserted that ARPA funding previously approved by the board will cover that cost. Nick Coggins and planning staff emphasized the process is voluntary; they said the county will not pursue eminent domain for these voluntary actions but will pursue enforcement if owners refuse, and they warned that failing to take required enforcement steps risks the county’s continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Agenda item 16, a separate corrective action, involves submitting data collected by consultants to FEMA to request a Letter of Map Revision (an official FEMA map change); staff said that would remove the property from the regulated flood hazard area once FEMA approves the map revision.
Planning staff said these actions are part of the county’s statutory duty for floodplain enforcement; commissioners asked questions about property transfers and the land bank process. Staff said the county would take temporary ownership, remediate the parcel and then transfer it to the land bank; they also said adjoining owners had been notified and had expressed interest in acquiring parcels subject to floodway restrictions.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript excerpt, but staff asked for the commissioners’ concurrence to proceed with the corrective action plans.
