Clay County is in the process of updating its federal flood insurance rate maps and has until May to complete the task.
Randy Jones, Clay County”s flood plain administrator, informed the county”s Board of Supervisors Wednesday they have until May 3 to update their flood maps, ordinance and regulations to remain in the Federal Emergency Management Agency”s National Flood Insurance Program.
As part of the National Flood Insurance Program, communities are given flood insurance premium rates. Clay County is considered a “Class 10” community, but could drop down in classes once flood plain management activities are complete. For each class reduction, premium rates drop 5 percent. If a resident is paying $500 to $800 a year for flood insurance, the reduced rate could be “significant,” Jones said.
“It”s a big help,” he said.
In other business Wednesday, supervisors commended West Point-Clay County Animal Shelter President Frank Portera for taking in 11 pit bulls, which were used for dog fighting, and had been confiscated by the West Point Sheriff”s Office. The animals were in such poor health they had to be destroyed, Portera said, but supervisors were grateful to the shelter for housing the dogs until a decision could be made on their future.
Supervisors also executed a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality solid waste officer grant worth $8,648.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.