Looking forward to a Happy New Year is a good time for a new perspective.
Property owners have always seen lower property values as the answer to lower property taxes. However, if the property is located in the floodplain, it is to the owner’s advantage to consider a reappraisal of the floodplain properties. With this thought in mind, I am sharing this week’s Mayor’s Corner with the Town’s Building Inspector/Floodplain Manager.
Citizens of Marlinton.
As the Floodplain Manager of the Town of Marlinton, it is part of my job to keep the community updated on information pertaining to FEMA designated flood zones. Updated maps of our flood zone will be finalized in March 2024. The flood zone has slightly expanded which will incorporate more residences. If you are unsure if your residence is in the flood zone, please feel free to contact me.
As time marches on, we often desire to improve our homes for various reasons. If you live in a flood zone, there are certain conditions to ensure buildings are eligible for insurance. To clarify some misunderstandings, you may invest any amount of money into your home to keep it compliant with ICC Building Code Regulations.
However, after a natural event – flood, fire, wind or any other natural event, there will be a damage assessment to determine the financial loss. In a designated flood zone, there is a threshold in place that limits repairs to 50 percent of the assessed value of the structure, not the land it sits upon. So, keep that in mind when you have to do major renovations to your home. It would also be advisable to have the value of your home reassessed and have that on file with the Pocahontas County Assessor’s Office.
There are also some positive changes to the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). They have rates that are very competitive with different types of rider policies. I will be scheduling a public information session in March of 2024. Our guest speakers will be representatives from the West Virginia Flood Plain Managers Association. They will touch on the NFIP and many other topics and provide a question/answer session that will be open to everyone.
I will have an advertisement on WVMR and The Pocahontas Times.
As usual, you are always welcome to stop at the town hall or give me a call.
I wish you all a very blessed holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
Bruce Van Meter
Town of Marlinton Building Inspector/Flood Plain Manager
Call 304-799-4315 or email at: brucebuildinginspector@gmail.com