SV council weighs helping flood victims

By Matt Brabb
Connection Editor

The Star Valley Town Council struggled with a decision about how involved the town should get in its attempt to help citizens whose properties were damaged during major flooding earlier this year.

“It’s an emotional issue,” said Councilor George Binney, who noted that one Star Valley property owner had seen the banks of the waterway that ran by his house erode to the point that there was no land left between his house and the creek bed.

“This is a problem that he has two months to deal with,” said Binney, referring to the imminent return of the Monsoon season.

Though the homeowner has flood insurance, it only covers damage to the house, not the surrounding property.

Binney was trying to get direction from the council on what steps, if any he and his board should take for impacted homeowners on behalf of the town.

“Anything we do with the government (federal) is long-term. The town can’t afford to do it, the homeowners can’t afford to do it. What does the council want to do? If we want to do nothing, I need to know that,” he said.

Asked by Council Barbara Hartwell what he had in mind, Binney responded that one possibility would be to put some boulders in the creek bed next to at risk homes, and fill in the rest with dirt.

“But they (the homeowners) can’t afford it,” he said.

Councilor Vern Leis was skeptical.

“The town can’t afford it either,” he said. “We as a council have a fiscal responsibility to all of our citizens. Morally, I feel for him, but the town didn’t buy his property and build a house where it would be in danger, we can’t fund it.”

Councilor Gary Coon asked, “If we do this for one person, won’t everyone with a house along the banks expect us to do the same? It could set a precedent.”

One possible solution for the town would be to sponsor a homeowner’s application to the federal government for relief. The sponsorship would include a 25 percent payment of work performed, but Binney intimated that it could be stipulated that the homeowner would be liable for that cost, not the town.

“If it was sponsored, the feds would do the work. If we don’t sponsor them, they won’t have access to the program,” he said.

“I think we should continue to apply,” agreed Mayor Bill Rappaport. “We need to see what the federal government can do for them.”

“I think we need to let it drop until we know more about it,” argued Hartwell.

Town Attorney/Manager Timothy Grier was reluctant to move forward on the application process.

“As your attorney, I’m telling you that you could very well have an issue with spending money on private property,” he said.

“I would like to help you find a way to do this, but if there is not a way, I want to advise you about your limitations. No matter how well intentioned the council is, sometimes there is no answer.”

“The liability scares me to death,” he added. “I can’t tell you what kind of liability you are exposing yourself to, even if you sponsor this in a non-funding way.”

Binney still seemed unconvinced; pointing out that merely filing an application should not create liability. He argued that until shovels were in the ground, the town would probably be safe.

“But all life is a risk,” he said.