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Residents urge commissioners not to change floodplain ordinance at public comment
Summary
Three residents told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners they oppose proposed changes to the county's floodplain ordinance, saying existing rules protect land and water and that professionals and many neighbors back the current regulations.
Residents urged the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 10 to abandon proposals to change the county's floodplain ordinance, saying existing protections are necessary to keep land and waterways safe.
Mary Ann Ingram, who identified herself as a Franklin resident at 115 Autry Road, asked commissioners whether there is a reason to change regulations that nearby counties already have in place. "Is there another side?" she asked, saying she has not seen evidence that current rules are broken. "If it ain't broke, why are we wanting to fix it?" Ingram described herself as "The Lorax" and said she speaks for the trees.
The comments reflected a broader concern about the ordinance: speakers said technical expertise and strong public interest support keeping the current rules. Melanie McMillan, who said she lives on Lloyd Stewart Lane and described a career in freshwater conservation, told commissioners she and other members of the public have repeatedly shown up to oppose the amendments. "These kinds of things we have in place have helped preserve Lincoln County," McMillan said, and she added that repeated meetings with professionals have left opponents unconvinced the changes are necessary.
Another speaker, Matthew Vargas of Deerfield Ridge, recalled a crowded initial meeting on the issue where most attendees stood to oppose the changes. He told the board that professionals who testified had explained why proposed revisions would be "damaging," and asked commissioners to weigh that technical testimony alongside the public turnout.
The public comment period contained only those three speakers on the floodplain topic; no formal action or vote on ordinance language occurred during the Dec. 10 meeting. Commissioners did not debate or vote on the proposed ordinance changes at this session. The board did not provide new evidence at the meeting to justify initiating changes, and members encouraged continued public input and technical review before taking legislative steps.
Looking ahead, speakers and commissioners alike signaled the issue remains active: public commenters said they would continue attending meetings, and the board indicated it will consider questions raised by residents and experts before advancing any ordinance amendments.
