A new floodplain ordinance mandated by FEMA that took effect June 19 has created difficulties for some municipalities in the county.

To address the issues, County Engineer Dan Dahlke along with the county commission will host a training class on July 19 to provide instruction regarding the FEMA guidelines and requirements that went into effect earlier this month.

“We’ve been getting several calls mainly from municipalities,” Dahlke said.

Dahlke advised the county commission that the new floodplain maps need to be uploaded to the county’s website to provide municipalities and citizens with visual information about the new floodplain zones.

The ordinance provides regulations to ensure communities take into account the possibility flood hazards.  Under the new ordinance, property owners who have land in a floodplain area are required to carry flood insurance.  Banks will not provide loans to individuals in the new floodplain zones unless they obtain floodplain insurance from FEMA.

The training class will be held on July 19 at the training center for anyone interested.

“I think it will be very beneficial,” Commissioner Paul Manning said.

In other actions the county:

—Approved a request from the St. Clair County Public Park and Recreation Board to pay an invoice from The Kelley Group in the amount of $17, 976 for the preliminary engineering design for renovations at the county arena property.

—Approved modifications to rates and zones for St. Clair Area Transportation.  Modifications include changing zones from six miles to five miles and changing the fee for extra stops along routes from 75 cents to $1.

—Approved  a General Fund Budget amendment in the amount of $8,519 for a jail employee changing from single to family insurance coverage and a one month rate increase on health insurance for Terry Marcum.  (Retirees are charged a slightly higher rate.)

—Approved the request from Judge Furr that $4,310.05 be paid from St. Clair County Juvenile Court Services Fund to the Alabama Office of Courts for an increase in Mitzi Carden’s salary as Chief Juvenile Probation Officer.

—Approved submitting a letter of commitment to Thompson Tractor for equipment rotation for the county engineering department.

—Approved hiring Brandon Paul for the part-time road worker position, scheduled to start next month.

—Approved hiring Carrie Cole as a temporary inspector for the county engineering department.

—Approved the re-appointment of Pat Barrett to the St. Clair County Dept. of Human Resources Board.