It’s the strings that come with a potential flood rating system that have Commissioner Wes Cormier apprehensive.

French Wetmore of the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority gave the Grays Harbor County commissioners a short presentation on Nov. 27 about the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) community rating system.

According to Wetmore’s presentation, if the county elects to enroll in the community rating system, the county could engage in planning and action for flood mitigation and effectively lower flood insurance rates for residents.

The community rating system would rate the county between 1 (the best) and 10 (not participating) in terms of flood mitigation. Every five years, the county would be re-evaluated for its rating. The rating system includes 10 steps the county must complete to participate, and Wetmore said many of the county’s current flood mitigation efforts cover some of those steps.

If the county were to achieve a class 8 rating from the community rating system, residents in FEMA’s special flood hazard area would receive a discount of $157 per year on their rates. Countywide, more than $33,000 would be saved in insurance premiums.

For Commissioner Cormier the rating system would take too much control away from local officials.

“I don’t want the federal government to be put in the driver’s seat of county and local planning,” Cormier said. “I’d rather use our planner’s time in updating our comprehensive plan than starting a new endeavor like this.”

Kris Koski an engineer with the city of Aberdeen said his city and Hoquiam were supportive of the program.

“Aberdeen and Hoquiam are both actively pursuing CRS, and the way we look at it is we’re really looking at what is the savings to the citizens,” Koski said.

Commissioner Vickie Raines is the Flood Authority chairwoman. She said she had asked Wetmore to give the presentation to the commissioners. Raines is in favor of adopting the system.

“I’m in agreement to move forward with it,” Raines said. “There’s value there, and it would be a missed opportunity if it’s not done.”

Grays Harbor County Emergency Management deputy director Chuck Wallace cautioned that the county might have to begin its current flood mitigation process over to qualify for the community rating system. Both Raines and Wetmore disagreed with Wallace adding that much of what has already been completed by the county could be counted toward the community rating system.

Jane Hewitt of the county’s planning department said she didn’t think it would be difficult for the county to take steps to comply with most of the steps within the community rating system, but she does see issues.

“Some of my concerns have to do with the requirements in the floodplain that we don’t already have the ability to enforce,” Hewitt said. “RVs permanently parked in the floodplain, and junk and debris in the floodplain.”

Commissioner Randy Ross said he worries about the effect not participating would have on the county’s ability to receive grants in the future.

No action was taken, and the commissioners agreed to discuss the community rating system further at a later date not yet determined.