Highland Heights City Council may spend $50,500 on a study to determine exactly where the flood plain lies in the city. Officials dispute the flood plain map released in December that resulted in about 50 residents being told they need to purchase flood insurance.
The $50,500 expenditure will be on the agenda for Tuesday's council meeting. Assistant City Engineer Brian Mader said at a caucus meeting Tuesday that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources would accept the flood plain map created from the study as the official version.
"Our revision becomes the new official map," he said.
Mader added that while the study will likely remove some residents from the flood plain, others could be added.
"You could pull new people in," he said. "But, again, you'll be defining the flood plain zone so we know what it really is."
The study will cover two tributaries, one with 73 properties touching it and another covering 70 to 80 properties. The flood plain area roughly stretches from Highland to Wilson Mills roads and Bishop Road to Rutland Drive.
Council members expressed support for the study.
"I certainly think it's something we should do," Councilwoman Cathy Murphy said.
Mader said the study will take about three months and it will be a total of about five to six months before ODNR approves a new flood plain map.
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