Sequatchie County adopts updated floodplain resolution after heated debate; 15–3 vote

The Sequatchie County Commission on Nov. 17 voted to adopt Resolution 806, an update to the county's floodplain regulations intended to keep the county in the National Flood Insurance Program administered by FEMA. The roll call vote was 15 in favor and 3 opposed.

Supporters said the change was necessary to protect residents' access to federally backed flood insurance and to preserve eligibility for federal disaster assistance. The county's voluntary floodplain administrator told commissioners that the resolution implements updated federal guidance and noted extensive outreach: “I sent out 585 letters to property owners in the county that have a foot of floodplain on their property,” the administrator said during the meeting.

Opponents framed the choice as one between local property rights and federal mandates. One commissioner described his vote in personal terms and said he would register a protest: “No vote for me as a protest voter.” Debate included concerns that the resolution could impose building restrictions on properties and that unmapped streams might later be treated as regulated floodplain.

County staff and other commissioners emphasized that the resolution applies to unincorporated areas and that cities maintain separate floodplain jurisdictions. The text of the adopted resolution also renames and clarifies the local appeals body as the regional board of floodplain zoning appeals, a change made after public meetings and reviewed in coordination with the state and FEMA.

The resolution takes effect per the county's administrative schedule; county staff said next steps include posting information about the updated maps and procedures and following FEMA's processes for implementation.

The discussion and vote were recorded during the Nov. 17 commission meeting; the first discussion in the transcript begins at SEG 1287 and the vote is recorded through SEG 1890.