FEMA funding not an option

SANDPOINT — Bonner County is ineligible for federal grant assistance to purchase, relocate or elevate a home that was allegedly constructed in a floodway.

County officials were hoping federal funding could be utilized to resolve the alleged encroachment, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency notified them that Hazard Mitigation Assistance money can’t be used.

Brandon Allen, a FEMA hazard mitigation specialist, reviewed the matter and held that grant assistance is not available in instances involving negligent or intentional acts, or to remedy a code violation.

“He believes that this problem falls into the category described above, and is thus wholly ineligible for assistance under the HMA programs,” Jaime Huff, a regional FEMA floodplain management specialist, said in a Jan. 3 email to county officials.

The 3,700-square-foot home at the confluence of the Pack River and Grouse Creek was built with the county’s permission in 1994 and later sold to James and Marlene Stobie, according to planning department records.

The Stobies made improvements to the property by elevating and paving a driveway, and erecting a temporary storage building. The couple is also accused of dredging and placing fill in the floodway.

FEMA contends the home and improvements are all located in the floodway and concluded that there is no records of the required analysis to determine the development’s effect on the base flood elevation.

The landowners obtained permission to install rip-rap on a riverbank, but now face accusations that substantially more of the rock armoring was installed than was originally allowed.

Sandpoint attorney John Finney, who appears to be representing the couple, declines to discuss the matter.

The county has less than 90 days to develop a plan to either purchase and raze the $849,000 home, or have it relocated or elevated.

The county could bring litigation to force the landowners to resolve the encroachment, although there is concern the county could be held responsible because a former planning department administration OK’d the home’s location.

County officials have not yet taken any action on the issue.

The alleged floodway violation could cause flood insurance rates to increase for more than 200 waterfront landowners in Bonner County.