Wednesday, January 26, 2000
Funds to allow buyout of flooded homes
BY LEW MOORES
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP — Federal and state funds have been approved to begin the process of buying out 16 homeowners in the township who have been repeatedly subjected to flooding over the years.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the funds totaling more than $800,000 on Tuesday. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) will provide another $547,000.
The money is provided through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and is designed to prevent losses through either acquiring property, elevating structures or flood-proofing properties.
The 16 homeowners live along Blanchetta Drive and Royal Glen, properties that run along or are near the West Fork of the Mill Creek.
“We're ecstatic,” said Frank Birkenhauer, assistant township administrator. “Hopefully, we will be able to lessen the damage for the people remaining.”
Mr. Birkenhauer said one of the next steps might be resurveying the property owners to see who is still interested in acquisition.
Last year, a survey indicated 12 of the 16 homeowners expressed an interest in selling.
“We'll probably do another survey and get an appraisal for those people that are still interested,” said Mr. Birkenhauer.
Deborah Hatley, who lives on Blanchetta, said she has not changed her mind about pursuing the buyout.
“I am tickled to death,” she said of the FEMA approval. “I am definitely ready to go.”
Last year, township officials, meeting with residents and state officials, determined the best course of action was to buy out the property owners and either leave the land vacant or turn it into a park.
“I think it's going to have a positive impact,” said Trustee Keith Corman, who added that the area around Blanchetta flooded just recently on Jan. 3.
“I got to see firsthand how it comes up into people's homes,” said Mr. Corman. “This (buyout) is the only thing we can do with these particular homes.”
Mr. Birkenhauer said the land could also serve as a water retention area in periods of flooding.
“That's an idea that must go through several different agencies to be approved,” Mr. Birkenhauer said.
In addition to federal and state money, the township is putting up $449,400 in community development block grant funds.
The money would be used for appraisals, to buy the homes, which are estimated to be worth between $80,000 and $90,000, demolition work and relocation costs.
The whole process could take at least a year or two, beginning with negotiations with homeowners over the value of their property.
Flooding over the past three decades in this area has cost both homeowners and the government thousands of dollars in damage and steps to control the flooding problems.
“Strategies like the Colerain Township project give people an opportunity to be proactive in protecting their families and property from the destructive nature of flooding,” said James Williams, executive director of Ohio EMA.
Grants monies from FEMA have been used elsewhere in this area, including Cincinnati, Whitewater Township and Clermont County.
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