The Flake family represented by Mark Flake, made an agreement with Copperstate Farms Properties, to sell land that will be used for a flood control project to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) standards, and will address the runoff from the drainage areas, which affect the Flake property and other property areas upstream. Copperstate Farms will eventually deed the property to the Town of Snowflake.
“We’re trying to get out of the floodplain,” said Town Manager Brian Richards, to the Snowflake Town Council at their Tuesday, March 21, council meeting.
The intent is to put a channel north of the Copperstate Farms greenhouses almost to Red Hill. This has been an on-going project beginning several years ago with work on the Southern Solution.
Richards explained that without the sale of the Flake land to Copperstate Farms the town would have had to start the grant application process again, and they are far enough in the process to begin the environmental study, which Richards said is a good indication of receiving the grant; however they have not received a notice of award as yet.
The letter agreement states:
* The town will provide water to the Flake property line, when and if the land is developed, and a permanent need for potable water to the property can be shown.
* The town will build the channel when funds are granted, within the FEMA funding guidelines, and when the Town Council approves the expenditure.
* The town will maintain the channel so as not to erode adjacent property, consistent with the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) requirements, and long-term maintenance agreement by the town council.
* The town will provide a roadway easement to the Flake property line.
* The town will construct to the plans submitted in the grant application, which include a low-water crossing over the channel, intended to provide access to the Flake property, and the proposed channel maintenance road on the northern side of the channel. The proposed crossing will consist of six barrels of 48” diameter corrugated metal pipe culvert. The roadway width is 30’ wide, slightly larger than the existing Industrial Drive to which the crossing will be aligned. The low water crossing is designed to be overtopped temporarily during the 100-year event, to allow the peak flow to pass. Rip-rap protection and a 6” asphalt road surface are provided to minimize erosion during the overtopping event.
Upon completion of the project, the town will apply for a Letter of Map Revision, which will incorporate the floodplain on Flake land.
“Once completed, this final piece of regional flooding solution will benefit all property owners by removing them from the flood hazard area, and clear the path for economic growth in the community, with a commensurate increase in Flake property values, having resolved long-term flood hazard issues,” said Richards, in a letter dated March 21.
Following the discussion, the council unanimously approved the agreement with the Flake Family.
In other business, the council gave final approval to a rezone request from Stephen Reidhead to rezone his property from agricultural five acre to residential two acre.
The council also approved an agreement for the Regional Connector Transit Service. “We’re already paying our share of the transit,” said Richards adding, “It shows support from our side to enter into this IGA.”
The item regarding a discussion on “What All Local Elected Officials Need to Know” was tabled with the mayor admonishing councilors to read the material, and requested a work session next month to go over the information.
