Council Approves Plan To Update Floodplain

FARMINGTON — A study to update Farmington’s floodplain will look at three major streams in the city limits to provide accurate information for flood insurance maps.

Farmington City Council last week approved a resolution to participate in the floodplain mapping project for about $20,000. Total cost will be $79,500, with the

Federal Emergency Management Agency providing 80 percent of the money. The project is being sponsored through Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

Lee Beshoner, water resources engineer with FTN Associates of Fayetteville, said the study will consider about 5 1/2 miles of streams and will look at all areas that drain to the South Fork of Farmington Branch, Spring Mountain Creek and North Fork of Farmington Branch.

The scope of the project will be Zone A of the city’s floodplain but this will not include all of the city, Beshoner said.

Several Council members were concerned the study did not include Meadow Sweet subdivision, located off Highway 170. One street in the subdivision has had major problems with flooding.

Alderwoman Diane Bryant said she supported the project but that it did not go far enough.

“I strongly recommend you add Meadow Sweet subdivision,” Bryant said.

Council member Keith Lipford said he wondered why Meadow Sweet was not included in Zone A, considering the flooding problems it has had over the years.

Beshoner said the project would be a starting point and when finished, all information would be turned over to the city.

If there are “hot spots,” city officials then could decide to expand the study and map other areas, Beshoner said.

The project will start Oct. 1 and will probably take one year to finish, Beshoner said, noting the results probably will show some areas are no longer in the floodplain and other sections should be added to the city’s floodplain map.

Mayor Ernie Penn said a new map will be a good step for Farmington.

He pointed out the most recent flooding in Meadow Sweet occurred after Farmington received 12 inches of rain in 24 hours.

“There’s no drainage system that can control all that water,” Penn said.

Penn said the city is discussing ways to alleviate flooding in the neighborhood.

“We’re going to be proactive to help those folks,” Penn said.

In other action, City Council members approved a resolution to apply for federal funds for fiscal year 2018 for a plan to widen Highway 170 from Main Street to Clyde Carnes Road.

Farmington already has received funding to design the project to widen Highway 170 and is approved for money to acquire property to relocate utilities.

The latest grant would be $800,000 to pay for utility relocation costs, with the city providing 20 percent of this, or $200,000.

Funds are coming from the Federal-Aid Transportation Block Grant Program administered through Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

The Council also approved a low bid of $41,151 from Hutchens Construction to pave five-eighths of a mile on North Appleby Road. The road surface is currently chip and seal and it was damaged by recent flooding.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Laurie Adkins of Farmington casts her vote in the special 1 percent sales tax election last week. She said she supported the tax and bond issues for street and park improvements.