NILES Flood insurance offer stays

The insurance is available only nationally, through FEMA.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- With relatively minor changes since 1978, the city will continue to participate in a national program to allow homeowners in the flood plain to buy flood insurance.
Council adopted a revised flood-damage-prevention program Wednesday that lets residents purchase the insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Niles has been involved in the program since 1978.
Changes in elevations
City Engineer Mark Hess said the only changes to the plan in the past 24 years is that some elevations along the Mahoning River have changed.
Most lending institutions require homeowners in a flood plain to carry the insurance, which can be purchased only through FEMA. The agency offers the insurance plans only to communities involved in the flood-damage-prevention program.
Hess said that some homeowners may have mortgages on their homes that predate FEMA's program but that if another mortgage is placed on a home, the lending institutions may require the insurance.
Council members needed to approve participating in the plan by Nov. 21, or the city would have to reapply to FEMA for inclusion, Mayor Ralph A. Infante said.
Road work
Also at the meeting, council approved a resolution to allow the state to perform minor rehabilitation and resurfacing along state Route 169, between state Route 46 and the city limit.
Hess said work won't begin until 2007, but he thought it best to get the resolution on the table because the city will also eventually pursue other state money for the project.
"We are going to double hit this thing," he said. "Later, we are going to go after Issue II money." The city will use the additional money to replace curbs and driveway approaches, as well as sidewalks, where needed.
The section of road was last worked on in 1994, Hess said.
slshaulis@vindy.com