WARSAW — During a brief meeting lasting less than half an hour Wednesday, July 5, in Warsaw, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission approved a preliminary plat petition for Rodney Delong.

Delong is platting a two-lot agricultural subdivision on his property along CR 650E at the intersection with CR 400S in Washington Township.

There were some questions raised about the drainage easement on the property. Delong said it is a private drain and he plans to have it rerouted to between the two lots instead of across one of the lots as it is now. Mike Kissinger of the APC, also the county surveyor, asked who would pay for repairs to the easement if it is ever damaged. Delong noted the owner of lot two would pay for repairs.

In other business, the APC recommended approval for vacation of a portion of road right of way near Otter Trail off the northeast side of Beaver Dam Lake in the Benzarts subdivision. The petitioner is Deborah Ballinger.

Steve Snyder, attorney representing Ballinger, said the right of way is an unimproved roadway now used as a yard by more than one property owner. “It simply doesn’t need to exist anymore as it was originally platted,” he said. “They are splitting the yard they already have.”

The right of way to the north has already been vacated. County commissioners will consider the petition at their Tuesday, July 25, meeting.

After the agenda items were discussed, Matt Sandy, assistant planning director for the county, talked briefly about changes already in effect involving the national flood insurance program. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is emphasizing homes need to be lifted up out of flood zones when improvements are made.

Some homeowners will discover, if they haven’t already, they will be told they need to have their homes raised if they are in a flood zone and want to make any improvements. There is a one-time only exemption to make improvements to homes in a flood zone, but the exemption is no longer good even if improvements were done in the past.

The process for issuing improvement permits for a second time to homes in flood zones is being developed. More information will be released to increase public awareness.

Jon Garber was welcomed as a new member of the planning commission. He was appointed by the county council to replace the late Bob Sanders.