Supervisors weigh dissolving 30‑year Floodplain Advisory Board as new maps arrive

Planning staff from the Southeast Regional Planning Commission briefed supervisors on Feb. 17 about the Floodplain Advisory Board and recent mapping in the Skunk River area.

"This is a board that's been in existence for uh over 30 years now," planning staff said while outlining the board's origin after the 1993 flood and the fact that it was created by resolution rather than being required by ordinance. Staff noted the advisory board has met infrequently — roughly five meetings since 2011 — and that many floodplain functions are now served through the DNR notice and appeals process.

Staff recommended evaluating whether to reappoint members or dissolve the advisory board and bring substantive map and text changes directly to the supervisors. The conversation stressed that, while the advisory board was useful in the early years, current notification and appeals processes and DNR-led mapping reduce the board's everyday role.

Supervisors asked staff to prepare options and a possible resolution to dissolve the advisory board; staff also said they would present the upcoming map updates and the small recommended ordinance text changes this spring. No formal dissolution vote was taken at the meeting.

Why it matters: The advisory board historically provided local review and stakeholder input on floodplain variances and maps. Dissolving it would shift responsibility and public notice expectations to staff and the board of supervisors and could change how local stakeholders get direct input.