COUDERSPORT — The Potter County Commissioners dealt with two rising problems in the county — flood insurance rate hikes and a growing drug abuse problem among county residents — at Thursday’s meeting.
Concerned citizen Otto Deutschlander of Homer Township attended the meeting to inquire about the county’s response to drastically-rising National Flood Insurance Program premiums.
“These are just terrible hardships we’re suffering,” said Deutschlander, who said he attended the meeting to represent about 20 individuals who were unable to attend. “This is typical of our government at the national level — everything that’s destroying the whole fabric of our country.”
Commissioners Doug Morley and Paul Heimel said they and Commissioner Susan Kefover, who was absent from the meeting, are working with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and with the commissioners from a number of other affected counties to get solutions to skyrocketing rates.
“The state commissioners association is calling for a four-year delay to the new rates,” said Heimel. “Representative (Glenn) Thompson and Senator (Robert) Casey have already signed onto the delay, and we believe that Senator (Pat) Toomey is coming on board as well.”
Indeed on Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it would be delaying higher premiums required by the new flood insurance maps, saying insurance premiums required under a 2012 law now won’t be raised until the fall of 2015 at the earliest. The issue has affected scores of residents in Potter and neighboring Cameron County, some of whom saw their premiums skyrocket.
According to figures released by Casey’s office, Pennsylvania will be the seventh most-affected state by the new rates, and some counties will see as many as 80 percent of residents suffer these higher rates.
While the moratorium would stall the new rates, some homeowner’s have seen their annual premiums rise from approximately $700 to nearly $9,000 annually, with the entire amount being due within weeks of receiving a bill.
Officials said one measure being discussed would “grandfather in” properties built before the flood plan maps were developed, and new rates would only be triggered under specific circumstances, such as repetitive catastrophic loss, while barring new construction in flood-prone areas.
“It’s our responsibility to work with our commissioners association to represent the concerns of the people,” Heimel said. “But, it is a federal mandate and there is only so much we can do at the county level.”
Meanwhile, the commissioners touched on another subject that is bedeviling the county, that of growing drug addiction.
To that end, Heimel handed out a packet that details the county’s response to the growing issue of drug addiction and abuse within Potter County. According to a report by Black Forest Broadcasting, four fatal drug overdoses have occurred in the county within the past 18 months.
“We’re doing a lot. We’re doing everything we can think of to do,” Heimel said.
Potter County has an Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (ATOD) Advisory Board, with members from probation, Dickinson Center, Potter County Human Services, Cole Memorial Hospital, the district attorney and private citizens “to work on the issue of addiction in an intelligent and organized way.”
County officials said there are a number of measures being undertaken by the ATOD board and the agencies that work with it, including, providing treatment to any school student in need at the student’s school; evidence-based prevention programs to all five Potter County school districts; working closely with the criminal justice/judicial system to get clients necessary services; Student Assistance Program services; DUI Treatment Court; and informing seniors through local senior centers of ATOD issues.
In other news, chief assessor Jake Ostrom visited the meeting to remind residents of the March 1 deadline for submission of Homestead/Farmstead Exemption paperwork.
Individuals with a Potter County property as their primary residence can claim up to $300 in tax credits from the school district by verifying their status as a homestead or farmstead.
The property must be the primary residence. This can be a house, an owned trailer on leased land, or an elderly individual with proof of a “lifetime tenant” agreement. Commercial farms can also receive an exemption.
The difference in the amount paid by the homeowner and received by the school is made up by state revenue earned through gambling. More information can be found on the assessment department’s webpage at pottercountypa.net. Contact the office of the assessor for more information or to check on eligibility.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Gunzburger Building in Coudersport.
