nspencer@delphosherald.com

DELPHOS — The city is revising its Flood Damage Reduction and Flood Plain Management regulations. Council heard on first reading an ordinance repealing certain sections of the former legislation adopted in 1995 and reinforcing other sections.

“This is draft-recommended language from FEMA and if we want to be a flood plain management municipality as we have in the past, we need to adopt this,” Safety Service Director Greg Berquist said.

New Flood Insurance Rate Maps will go into effect on May 2. Some parcels now included in a the city’s flood plain may no longer be in the new flood plain and some who are not currently in a flood plain may be on the new map.

“I have talked to the local banks and they are all on board with this and will make sure their clients are taken care of and those who are in the new flood plain get insurance,” Berquist added.

Berquist also told council the city is required to pass the legislation to become eligible for certain government funds, including reimbursement for storm cleanup, etc.
A public hearing for those who have questions regarding the new Flood Insurance Rate Map or the Flood Damage Reduction and Flood Plain Management regulations will be held at 6 p.m. March 5 in council chambers at the municipal building.

Councilman Mark Clement asked Berquist to look into getting the Toledo Molding and Die plant southwest of Delphos on State Route 697 annexed into the city.

“We have an agreement with TMD that if a contiguous property does become annexed they will also annex,” Berquist said. “Right now, we don’t have a contiguous property.”

Clement said he encouraged Berquist to follow up on the matter and look into what it would take to make the annexation happen.