County to waive building permit fees for flood victims

The citizens of Putnam County having to rebuild or rehabilitate their homes following April's flood will have one less expense to worry about from the county.

The Putnam County Commissioners are waiving the county's building permit fee for anyone having to do construction as a result of the historic flooding that swelled Big Walnut and other local creeks.

In the grand scheme of things, it's a small expense, but remains a gesture county officials wanted to make.

"The commissioners didn't think it was right to charge these poor people," County Planner Sandy Amers said.

Flood victims simply need to tell Amers the reason for the permit application and it will be processed free of charge.

Amers also provided an update to the DNR program announced recently that could provide assistance to individual homeowners.

The funds are available to homeowners who have flood insurance. Up to $30,000 could be available in order to bring the homes into compliance.

In order to qualify for the program, homeowners must have their homes inspected by the county. Even homes that were already inspected by Putnam County Emergency Management must be inspected.

Contact Amers at 658-2786 or pcplanning@yahoo.com to get on the list of homes to be inspected.