14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Town wants to pay for inspection, gov't says "No"

Town wants to pay for inspection, gov't says "No"

Reporter: Stuart Peck
New Media Producer: Rachel Folz

Some Western Kentucky homeowners protected by a flood wall may need to get flood insurance anyway.

The mayor of Hawesville has been ordered by FEMA to have the Ohio River flood wall inspected and certified.

While the city has enough money to cover the cost in budget, a loop hole only allows for federal funds to be used for the inspection. And, if the inspection isn't completed residents may have to pay for flood insurance.

After Hurricane Katrina destroyed flood walls in New Orleans FEMA has mandated that earthen flood walls be inspected and certified.

The City of Hawesville has one of those walls and has the money for it's inspection.

The mayor tells 14 News that's not going to work.

The Army Corp of Engineers says the money has to come from a federal grant but there isn't a federal grant available.

Now Hawesville's mayor, Charles King, says his back is up against a wall.

Mayor King says he's getting the run around from FEMA and the city doesn't have a lot of time to waste.

King said that the city will pay the price if time runs out, "Then FEMA will look at our flood wall like it's non-existent. So consequently all of Downtown Hawesville and the residents there in will be in the 100 year flood plane."

Even though the city has the money from their own coffers to pay for the certification, the money has to come from a federal grant.

If the certification isn't done in a year, not only will residents have to pay more for flood insurance but the city's property value could go down the drain.

"Who would knowingly buy property in a flood zone?" King said, "It will have a detrimental affects to your property values."

In addition to the estimated $75,000 it would take to inspect and certify the wall, King tells 14 News there is also some repairs that need to be done. A section of the wall is eroding away and he says it will probably need to be fixed before the certification can be completed.

The Army Corp of Engineers has estimated that cost to be about $200,000.