From left are Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission members Charles Haffner, Doug Ruch, Larry Coplen, Richard Kemper, Lee Harman, Bob Conley, Mandy Espinoza and Kevin McSherry. Kemper was honored with a plaque at what was his last APC meeting. County surveyor since 1989, he resigned and his last day as surveyor will be Aug. 14.

WARSAW — State and federal mandated revisions to Kosciusko County’s flood control ordinance are a step closer to final adoption. During its regular monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5, in Warsaw, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission recommended approval of the revisions.

Matt Sandy, assistant planning director for the county, noted the revised ordinance is set to become effective Sept. 30. Changes to the flood plain maps will mean some property owners will be removed from flood zones, while others will find themselves placed in a flood zone.

Those property owners with a federally insured mortgage on their homes and who would be negatively impacted by the new maps should be receiving a letter from a bank informing them they will now need flood insurance, Sandy said.

The process of making the revisions was quite stressful and time consuming and required several contacts with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Sandy noted DNR finally approved the revisions the morning of Aug. 5. It was also noted by Sandy and Dick Kemper, APC member and the county surveyor, an attempt was made to remove a section from the ordinance dealing with “other flood areas,” or those not found on Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps, because it is very subjective and open to interpretation, but DNR wanted it kept in the ordinance.

In addition to the new maps, another major change in the ordinance is addressing a conflict between DNR and FEMA requirements for those properties located right at the base flood level. DNR says the property is subject to regulations, but FEMA says it would not be considered in a flood zone.

Larry Coplen, APC member who later abstained from voting because he feels the revisions are excessive government influence, said it is highly recommended to check to see if a property is in a flood zone before purchasing it.

The county commissioners will consider the ordinance revisions at their Tuesday, Aug. 25, meeting. Copies of the revisions are at the area planning office in the county courthouse, which can be reached by phone at (574) 372-2304. Town councils in Milford, North Webster, Syracuse and Silver Lake must also approve the revisions.

Also on the agenda, the APC approved a preliminary plat for Rich and Patricia Marlow for an agricultural II two-lot subdivision on CR 950N at the intersection with CR 500E in Turkey Creek Township. The lots are being re-platted and will now be known as the Next To Heaven subdivision.

A property line had to be adjusted due to placement of a pole barn built in the 1990s and it will require wording to be added to the plat.

In other business, the APC recommended approval for a roadway vacation as petitioned by the Showalter family. It involves Shelf Drive, a platted road never opened in the Vanator Bluff Park subdivision on the north side of Barbee Lake.

Most of the road has been vacated already and now the Showalters want to vacate their portion. Another property owner nearby is not interested in vacating the road, noted attorney Steve Snyder who represented the Showalters. He also noted vacating the road will mean the Showalter property is no longer in violation of a zoning ordinance involving setbacks from a right of way.

County commissioners will consider the petition at their Aug. 25 meeting.