COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SET TO VOID ZONING LAWS; WANT TO VIEW THE IMPACT ON FLOOD INSURANCE

JACKSON - Before the Cape Girardeau County Commission takes formal action abolishing the county planning department and related ordinances, members of the commission want to make sure nothing will be done to jeopardize coverage under the federal flood insurance program.

"We want to find out exactly what ordinance the flood insurance is written under. This will give us an idea how we want to disband the planning commission and also null and void the ordinances that we have so they are no longer in effect, according to the will of the people," said Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander.

"But we can't get around the federal flood insurance regulations. There is no type of petition that can get us around from complying with that."

Last week voters in Cape Girardeau County rejected planning and zoning, repealing an action approved 20 years earlier. Opposition surfaced when the planning commission attempted to implement countywide zoning, and a petition drive put the measure before voters.

State law requires the county commission to take formal action within a reasonable period of time after planning and zoning is voted out.

Sander said the commission hopes to get some clear information about federal flood insurance at today's meeting but said he did not know when the commission would take action.

"We're not stalling for time, but what we want to do is keep ourselves in shape where we are in line with all statutes," said Sander. "What we are stalling for is information we need to have in order to do this in the way it ought to be done."

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said he looked forward to giving the issue considerable discussion today. This will be the first meeting where all three commissioners have been present since last Tuesday's election.

"The people have spoken and we might as well get the show on the road," said Huckstep. "But we certainly want to hear the ramifications of federal flood insurance. On Thursday we hope to decide what we are going to do and what our time frame is.

"It will be done, people can rest assured about that," added Huckstep. "We don't want this vote to jeopardize our federal flood insurance."

Sander explained that federal flood insurance requires that building permits be issued, and that lending institutions require that flood insurance regulations are followed.

The permits now are issued through the county planning department, which is directed by Charles Englehart. But last Tuesday's vote will lead to the closing of the office.

Sander said it is likely the building permits will be shifted to the mapping and reappraisal office, since staff there has the ability to review the maps and make flood plain determinations.

Sander added that records compiled by the planning commission and staff will be stored. He predicted voters will someday re-instate planning and zoning.

The county commission is seeking legal opinions on how to properly close out planning and zoning ordinances.