Lincoln County supervisors continue to mull whether to join theNational Flood Insurance Program, opting Monday to study a requiredordinance and seek additional information before making adecision.

Supporters contend joining the program could help homeowners inflood plains with insurance premiums, but opponents claim theprogram represents an extension of the “tentacles of a nannygovernment.”

Angela Barial, from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency(MEMA), appeared before supervisors once again Monday to discussthe program and the county’s potential involvement. A key componentof the program is a flood zone ordinance that would set up avariety of rules and regulations governing homes located in a floodplain.

“If a county wishes to join, they must agree to adopt andenforce the ordinance,” Barial said.

Joining the program would also allow the county to seek grantsfor items such as emergency sirens, loans and other forms ofassistance. Barial showed supervisors a map of newly designatedflood zones in the county.

“You have some special flood hazard areas in the county,” shesaid.

Barial said a home’s foundation must be at least 18 inches abovethe flood level for a 100-year flood. She said insurance premiumswould be based on that elevation.

“The higher you go, the lower the premium as far as what thehomeowner is paying,” she said.

Barial said Lincoln County is one of only two counties in thestate not in the NFIP. Franklin County is the other.

District One Supervisor the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson was most vocalin support of the program.

“If it’s going to help the people, it’s good,” Wilson said.

Other officials, however, were not as supportive.

They indicated concerns about a system that could requirepermits for things like out-buildings and similar construction.Also, County Engineer Ryan Holmes estimated a required elevationcertification could cost around $500, with an amount four to fivetimes that cost if an initial base elevation must bedetermined.

Bogue Chitto resident J.P. Moak and his wife Mataleen were atMonday’s meeting to hear the NFIP discussion. Although he cannotget flood insurance per se, he said he is paying an extra $150 to$200 to have some form of flood protection on their Calvary Drivehome.

“There may not be 500 folks in Lincoln County in that situation,but it just so happens we are,” Moak said.

Following Barial’s presentation, Ruth resident Pat McCulloughsaid the “warm, fuzzy feeling” in the room was the “tentacles of ananny government reaching down to take control.”

McCullough, whose home wound up in a flood plain, objected tothe arbitrary nature of the new map development and said thegovernment is never questioned in such matters.

“There’s no record of my house being flooded in 200 years,” hesaid.

McCullough offered a fiery condemnation of the governmentprograms like NFIP. He called them a “cancer” that once in placecontinues to grow.

“It’s another way of stifling and choking to death the ruralareas of Mississippi,” McCullough said.

Supervisors opted to take the matter under advisement. Theyintended to study the ordinance they would be required to pass andwhat ramifications it could have for the county and residents.

In other business Monday, supervisors held a hearing on anillegal dump complaint regarding some Greenwood Lane property ownedby John Lenoir. The complaint was filed by Dr. Dorothy Alexander,who was not present.

Lenoir acknowledged under questioning from board attorney BobAllen that he had stored a series of cars and trucks along theroadway and that construction debris was also placed there,although that has since stopped. Lenoir estimated he could have theautomobiles removed in 30 days.

Wilson maintained the issue should have been resolved withoutsupervisors’ involvement.

“It should have been gone,” Wilson said about the accumulationof vehicles. “This is an issue that never should have come beforethe board.”

Allen said board options include declaring the vehicleaccumulation a menace to health and safety and moving to have themremoved or to give Lenoir 30 days to have that work done himself.If Lenoir does not act, the county could move in to have the workdone and charge the costs to him.

“I think the cars are what is bothering everybody right now,”Allen said.

Supervisors moved to give Lenoir 30 days to act.