News Flash

PUBLIC NOTICE

The City of Cookeville has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) as a sub-recipient.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations.  Under Executive Order (EO) 11900 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands.  EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations.  This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements, and conditions.

Applicant: City of Cookeville

Project Title: City of Cookeville Acquisition Project

Location of Proposed Work: Within the Boundaries of the City of Cookeville.  The property is located at 1075 Willow Industrial Court, Cookeville TN, 38506.

Name of Structure: Cookeville Kitchen Sales

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: This project is for the acquisition and demolition of the structure located at 1075 Willow Industrial Court located in flood zone X.  Confirmation of location was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 470150.  The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of Tennessee and local floodplain regulations.  The proposed work will be to acquire and demolish the structure and will have no effect on the local floodplain.  The action will be mitigated by removing the structure and return the property to open space and prevent future loss of life and property.

Proposed Work and Purpose: The City of Cookeville is requesting funds to acquire and demolish the structure located at 1075 Willow Industrial Court and return the property to open space.  The purpose of this project is to protect future loss of life and property from flooding.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (No Action Alternative): Taking no action would result in this property remaining in an area that is highly prone to flooding, as well as being designated a Sinkhole Retention Area by the City of Cookeville.  Repetitive flood losses could still occur, placing a burden on the property owner, as well as local government resources.  If this structure remains, it would be a hinderance to the City’s efforts to progressively mitigate the highest potential flood loss areas in the city.   It would also fail to give any financial relief and assistance to the property owner whose business has suffered massive property damage.

Alternative #2: The most feasible action is to acquire the property, demolish the structure, and return the property to open space.  Doing so would lessen the loss of life and property in this area.  This action would not put the public at risk in future flooding events.

Alternative #3: Elevation would prevent the structure from being damaged from future flooding events.  However, the cost associated with the elevation of the existing structure would be a minimum of $3,500,000.00.  This is a conservative estimate and does not consider that the structure has suffered damage to such an extent that elevation is not even feasible.  Therefore, elevation is not viewed as a practical alternative to acquisition and demolition and restricting the use of the land.   Even though the structure would be elevated, the property would still be at risk for property damage and physical danger to the employees from future flooding.  The employees would still be in danger if floodwaters prevented them from leaving in a safe and timely manner, which would necessitate the effort and expense of rescue.  Elevation would also alleviate the option of phasing the land into a proposed greenspace project.  Greenspace would ultimately be a greater benefit to the community with little additional annual cost.

Comment Period:

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state, and federal agencies; and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project.  The comments should be made in writing and addressed to the City of Cookeville.  All comments are due within 30 days of this notice.   The City of Cookeville will forward comments to applicable regulatory agencies as needed.

Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information about the proposed action, or request a copy of findings by contacting:

Mr. Jon Ward
 Planning Director
 City of Cookeville
 45 East Broad Street
 Cookeville, TN 38501
 (931) 520-5238
 jward@cookeville-tn.gov

POSTED ON: City of Cookeville Website: www.cookeville-tn.gov 

End of Notice