The Newton County Commission approved revised flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Thursday morning, a day after heavy rains left streets flooded in the downtown Neosho area.
“There were no substantial damages,” said presiding commissioner Jerry Carter.
The FEMA flood insurance rate maps help insurance agencies locate at-risk buildings, community agencies administer floodplain management and provide residents access to a federal flooding insurance program.
The maps approved Thursday morning had not been updated since 1999.
“We were happy to get the new maps,” Carter said.
The county also approved shelter operation plans for the new FEMA shelter in Stella. Construction is complete on the project and a ribbon cutting is anticipated in the next few weeks.
Commissioners discussed reports of damage at the armory from Thursday’s rainstorm. A construction project there will remodel part of the building to function as a 911-dispatch center. The remodel is approximately half complete. Three leaks at the armory centered on the walls where the first and second story portions of the building meet and a doorway. One was on a wall between the first-story bay and the second story, another on the second floor and the last near an east-facing door.
Commissioners also reviewed a change order for the 911-dispatch remodel of the armory, which they put on hold until they could speak to the county engineer.
They noted renovations to Newton County Presiding Judge Tim Perigo ‘s Division I courtroom. A ceiling damaged by water earlier this year will be repainted as part of standard maintenance and the judge has budgeted for fresh carpet.
Commissioners signed a contract for municipal tax collection between the city and the county. Paperwork delivered by interim city manager Harlan Moore for the county to collect the city’s tax levy arrived Thursday morning and forwarded to the commission by Jim Otey, Newton County collector. The county provides the same tax collecting services to several other entities in the county.
The commission received and reviewed a cost estimate for a 48-bed jail expansion from Archetype Design Group, but no action was taken. Total cost estimate for the project with alternates is $1,884,672, but the stripped down projected cost is $1,662,340.
The commissioners discussed the need for all departments to perform timely submissions for state reimbursements so they can end the year on a good financial note.
