Floodplain ordinance is approved by board

With little discussion, the Alleghany County Commission approved a floodplain ordinance for the county with a unanimous 4-0 vote. The action came after a public hearing on the matter, during which only the two commissioners-elect spoke.

The meeting was the last to be attended by commissioners Charity Gambill and outgoing Chairman Ken Richardson, both of whom lost in their bids for re-election earlier this month.

Gambill had to leave the meeting just prior to a public hearing on the ordinance at 5 p.m. due to another meeting representing the county with Region D in Boone and thus was not able to vote on the ordinance. Also on hand at the meeting (in the audience) were newly elected commissioners Graylen Blevins and Sandy Carter. Blevins, a Democrat, and

Carter, a Republican, will officially take office in December. The next scheduled meeting is set for Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. That meeting will mark the first time the commission has been under Republican control in recent memory. The board will have three Republicans, including Carter and incumbents Warren Taylor and vice-chair Eldon Edwards. Democrats include Blevins and incumbent Patrick Woodie. Even so, very few votes have ever been split along party lines and partisanship is not usually readily apparent in the workings of the board.

As for the ordinance governing floodplain areas, the same version as was presented earlier was passed in full by the board, with one minor change.

In the slightly revised version, the board encourages all county citizens, whether or not in flood-prone areas, to acquire flood insurance. No other changes were made.

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