Like other municipalities around the region, the City of Rushford is in the midst of new flood plain mapping being conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Along with the process, the city is required to adopt a Floodplain Ordinance to maintain compliance with National Flood Insurance Program. Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, was on hand at the Monday, May 13 city council meeting to discuss the matter.
According to updated documents from Olinger, previous mapping was done in 1980 and largely consisted of areas within the channel of the Root River and Rush Creek, but did include additional low-lying areas. Areas protected by the levee system previously fell outside of the floodplain.
New, preliminary maps have been made available to municipalities and are scheduled to be made official August 15. Maps are denoted by four overlay district areas: Floodway, Flood Fringe, General Floodplain, and Bluff Protection. The first is areas primarily in the waterway channel, while Fringe Districts are primarily outside of levees. General Floodplain areas are those with known flood water elevations. To determine these, extensive modeling of water flow needs to be done, which is costly. “Basically, if there’s something in this area, extra analysis is required to determine if Floodway or Flood Fringe rules apply,” explained Olinger.
Areas are mapped by 100-year flood calculations, meaning there is a 1% return frequency or chance of flooding happening in any given year. Anyone’s properties inside Floodway or Flood Fringe Districts will require floodplain insurance for federally-backed mortgages. Owners of properties with no outstanding mortgage of this type have the option of choosing floodplain insurance.
There are a few areas near Nannestad Lane which are designated as a part of the General Floodplain Area. If even a portion of the property is in the Flood Fringe, the entire property is designated as such. Mortgage companies will notify owners of those properties and they will have 45 days to address the matter.
Mayor Chris Hallum expressed frustration with areas of the city still designated. “All that effort in last 10 years was to get everybody out of floodplain.” Properties can file a Letter of Map Amendment to contest their properties designation.
“Based on their modeling, this is what they say is going to flood,” said Olinger. “In reality, that’s not what’s going to happen.” Bolton & Menk will work with the city to review the properties to determine what options are available.
Olinger also noted specific changes to the ordinance. The first is related to Critical Facilities. This relates to critical community sites such as fire departments, hospitals, wastewater facilities. In the current ordinance, these facilities are state mandated to be one foot above the base flood elevation. In the new ordinance, they should be located at or above 500-year flood levels. “It got me a little worried. Following restrictions can be very expensive.” Olinger recommended the city remove this optional requirement from the ordinance until required by state statute.
Another change is related to Repetitive Loss. This equates to existing structures with recurring minimum damage of 25% of the market value over 10 years or less. Improvements to these structures would be required. This item is also optional, but inclusion will allow property owners to obtain up to $30,000 to raise a structure above the floodplain level.
The next steps in the process include review and approval by the DNR and a public hearing for the ordinance.
In other news, the city has received a clean audit from Smith Schaffer & Associates. General property tax levy comprise the bulk of municipal funding, with Local Government Aid adding some to the pie. “The money you’re getting from state is not keeping up with the cost of services and you’re having to make that up locally,” said Jason Boynton, Principal for Smith Schaffer. As for expenditures, the city saw a reduction from 2017 to 2018. “This is a trend; cities really tried to hold the line on costs,” added Boynton. Rushford was under budget or on target in all areas.
The building of the General Fund has grown since 2011, when unassigned fund balance dropped to just 9% of fund expenditures. In 2018, the unassigned balance was 104%. “It’s back to a healthy level. It improves capacity to bond at a lower rate and you’re in good shape now,” explained Boynton.
The city has just shy of $6 million in outstanding general obligation debt and $2.8 million in revenue bonds, which are being supported by payer rates in utility funds. All payments are being made in a timely basis.
An agreement with Minnesota Department of Transportation and the city has been approved for the Rushford Landscape Partnership. The grant project is intended to replace trees and vegetation along Highway 43 north/south and Highway 16 west. Up to $8,000 in landscape materials is provided with the grant this year and another $6,000 in potential funding next year. Detailed plans include the planting 36 trees. Other funding for downtown beautification may be available in the future.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, May 28, at 6:30 p.m., at city hall. Please note the date change to accommodate the Memorial Day holiday. The public is encouraged to attend.
Leave a Reply