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Help available for Follansbee flood victims

FOLLANSBEE — City officials may have given up hope on securing federal assistance for victims of last summer’s flood.

But the Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering a few options to residents whose homes were damaged by high waters from Allegheny Creek on July 30, 2016.

City Manager John DeStefano on Monday told council a representative of the state Department of Emergency Management arranged a recent visit by a FEMA official who discussed options available to residents of Allegheny Street and the nearby 900 and 1000 blocks of Virginia Avenue.

DeStefano said because of their proximity to the creek, a few homes on Allegheny Street are eligible only for FEMA’s buyout program.

Through the program, the federal agency offers the market value for homes in flood-prone areas to encourage their occupants to move elsewhere. To prevent future claims from being made, the homes are demolished and no new structures may be built there.

DeStefano said in addition to the buyout program, owners of eligible homes on Virginia Avenue may apply for up to $175,000 to raise their houses above the floodplain or replace their homes with new ones at the same site.

He said all of the eligible homeowners have been invited to a meeting with FEMA officials at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the City Building.

DeStefano said he learned the city’s fire station also may be eligible for the buyout program. Concerns about the station’s deteriorating floor had led council to consider building a new fire station elsewhere, but last month Mayor David Velegol said such plans had been dropped in favor of renovating the present station, a less costly endeavor.

DeStefano on Monday agreed to have the station appraised to determine how much the city might receive from FEMA, while making no decision on the station’s future.

He said FEMA also has indicated funds may be available to improve stormwater drainage on Raymond Street to alleviate future flooding.

In related business, the city manager advised the West Virginia Division of Highways is seeking right of way from the city to proceed with replacement of the bridge beneath the intersection of state Route 2 and Allegheny Street.

State highway officials made plans for the project since two sinkholes occurred on both sides of the intersection. DeStefano said he doesn’t know when the work will begin.

Desiring to expedite the project, council called a special meeting following Wednesday’s FEMA meeting to grant the right of ways.

Council also made plans to consider the first readings for increases to the city’s water and sewer rates at its next regular meeting. Because of Columbus Day, the meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 16.

Pending council’s approval of two readings, sewer rates will be raised from $9.41 per 1,000 gallons to $10.88 per 1,000 gallons and water rates will be raised from $5.33 per 1,000 gallons to $6.51 per 1,000 gallons.

In addition, monthly surcharges of $1.59 will be added to the sewer rate and $2.09 will be added to the water rate to establish a fund for future projects now required by the state.

Such projects include a combined $2 million in repairs and improvements to the water and wastewater treatment systems, including the separation of combined sanitary and stormwater sewer lines ordered by the federal government.

Council also was asked to consider proposals for an outdoor shooting range for City Police at the former site of the county’s animal shelter off Allegheny Street and a dog park suggested by a resident.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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