Minutes-7 /22/1990

The Tiffin city council met in special session on Friday, June 22, 1990 for the purpose of discussing the flood. Mayor Potter called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Council members present were Stoner, Brown and Morgan. Slaymaker and Bartels were absent. Also present were Engineer Hart, Attorney Greenelaf, Bob Herring, Bob Herring, Jr., Nancy Barnes, Ray Scheetz and a reporter from the Press Citizen. Mayor Potter reported that the small town mayors met with state officials and congressional aides concerning the flood. They are working to do all they can to help. Packets of information were sent to all towns with forms to sign and return for flood assistance. Tiffin, as well as some other smaller towns, did not receive the information packet. The trailer court is in a flood plain, nothing north of the railroad tracks is in the plain. There were negotiations with the FMHA and DNR to build a trailer court there. The owner was told he had to dike the court and that would take it out of the flood plain. Ktiffin is not the only city or county that is not subscribing to the flood insurance program. Slaymaker arrived at 7:33 p.m. Potter reported that Johnson county has the flood insurance. Swisher, Tiffin, Oxford, Solon, Shueyville, to name a few of the surrounding towns, do not have it. We didn't feel it was necessary with the dike. We have the opportunity to make the flood insurance retroactive now. We will do this with the council's permission. Otherwise, no disaster assistance will be available. The trailer court was hurt the most. If Tiffin does not participate, their chances of getting help are none. People on the north side have water damage and sewer backed up into basements. If Tiffin participates, they will be covered, also. Application for assistance will be taken at West high school from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday. They will extend the time, if necessary. They will go through all media sources to publicize this information. Someone could make a motion to participate in the flood insurance program. I have no idea of the cost, maybe it won't be very expensive. If we don't participate, people could borrow at low interest (4%-6%) with 30 years to repay. This also goes over to the city, which can borrow, also. The city would have to provide 15% of its own money. Individuals will need to list their losses. The items will be depreciated, like any insurance. There probably isn't any depreciation on structural damage. Individuals need to take their social security card, proof of identification, proof of address of residence. They will complete forms which will take 3 to 5 days to process. This is grant money. Bartels arrived at 7:35 p.m. This covers sewer backup. Motion Brown second Morgan to begin application process to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the federal flood insurance program. Roll call vote: Brown, aye; Bartels, aye; Stoner, aye; Slaymaker, aye; Morgan, aye. Carried unanimously. Motion Morgan second Brown to authorize Mayor to sign application when it arrives. Carried unanimously. Stoner: I gave a rough estimate to Johnson County Civil Defense. Figures for the trailer court were based on information from the managers. This initial estimate is probably too low now. Hart: Electrical damage at the sewer plant is estimated at $5,000.00. The road will need to be replaced at an estimated cost of $2,700.00. Street erosion and surface damage is estimated at $8,000.00.