Chemung County urges state and federal agencies to certify flood‑control levees

The Multi Services Committee on Oct. 25 unanimously passed a resolution urging New York State and federal authorities to evaluate and certify flood‑control levees that protect parts of Chemung County.

Committee members said Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance could lead FEMA to treat uncertified levees as non‑existent on flood maps unless engineering analyses — at local expense — demonstrate their integrity. One committee speaker recalled Andy Avery, a former public works commissioner, and quoted him: “How can you ask us to spend our tax dollars on something that doesn't belong to us?”

Speakers told the committee the levies were built by the federal government, are under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and are operated and maintained under an agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Committee members said they believe the state and federal governments should resolve certification and pay for any required analysis rather than shifting the cost to local taxpayers.

A committee member described the required engineering work as “incredibly complex and perfectly expensive,” and said municipalities would struggle to bear the cost. Supporters said the resolution urges state and federal cooperation to avoid imposing major new expenses on local towns and villages that do not own the levies.

The resolution passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

The resolution is recorded as urging New York State and federal authorities to evaluate and certify flood control levees serving Chemung County.