LaSalle County approves annual flood mitigation strategy review tied to CRS participation

LaSalle County staff presented the annual flood mitigation strategy, required to maintain participation in the Community Rating System (CRS) and to secure reduced flood-insurance rates for homeowners. The packet tracks ongoing activities tied to the county’s 2020 hazard mitigation plan and includes a status update noting the county adopted the 2024 International Residential Code and International Building Code language relevant to building-permit requirements.

Staff said most mitigation activities remain unchanged from the prior year but updated strategy language to reflect the new 2024 code adoption and the county’s continued need to keep a certified floodplain manager on staff. Staff also reported that the county’s application for state grant funding for an updated natural-hazard mitigation plan is still pending with the state’s IEMA office.

Committee members had no recommended changes during the meeting and voted to approve the annual flood mitigation strategy as presented. Staff said they will continue to monitor grant status and report back to the committee.

Why it matters: maintaining CRS classification affects flood-insurance rates for residents, and adopting current building codes is a recurring requirement that informs permit review and construction standards.