Sweetwater adopts floodplain zoning update after 4‑1 vote

The Sweetwater Board of Commissioners adopted ordinance 1057 on second and final reading to amend Title 14 governing floodplain zoning.

The change was presented as a required administrative update tied to new state flood‑insurance maps that staff said become effective Nov. 28. Staff told the board the state asked municipalities to adopt the revisions in advance so the revised maps could be used on that date.

Commissioners discussed timing and whether the new maps produced any local changes. Staff reported the state revised maps include updates for nearby counties but said there were no material changes to Sweetwater’s mapped flood areas. A commissioner raised concerns about late publication of some maps and whether all referenced map identifiers currently appear on the city’s online ordinance repository.

During discussion, one commissioner noted consequences of not adopting the update, saying that a municipality that refuses to adopt the state changes may no longer be eligible to participate in the federal flood‑insurance program. The record shows the board voted 4‑1 on a roll call vote to adopt ordinance 1057; Commissioner Stokes cast the sole no vote.

The ordinance takes effect according to the city’s standard effective date provisions and because staff indicated the state will use the adopted ordinance when the maps are activated on Nov. 28. No further local implementation steps or changes to existing permits were specified in the meeting record.