Duties of the Floodplain Administrator shall include, but not be limited to:
(A) Review all floodplain development applications and issue permits for all proposed development within flood-prone areas to assure that the requirements of this chapter have been satisfied;
(B) Advise permittee that additional federal or state permits (i.e., Wetlands, Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Riparian Buffers, Mining, and the like) may be required, and if specific federal or state permits are known, require that copies of such permits be provided and maintained on file with the Floodplain Development Permit;
(C) Notify adjacent communities and the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, State Coordinator for the National Flood Insurance Program prior to any alteration or relocation of a watercourse, and submit evidence of such notification to the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(D) Assure that maintenance is provided within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse so that the flood-carrying capacity is not diminished;
(E) Prevent encroachments within floodways and non-encroachment areas unless the certification and flood hazard reduction provisions of § 153.49 are met;
(F) Obtain actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the reference level (including basement) of all attendant utilities of all new or substantially improved structures, in accordance with § 153.26(C);
(G) Obtain the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) to which the new or substantially improved structures and all utilities have been flood-proofed, in accordance with § 153.26(C);
(H) Obtain actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of all public utilities, in accordance with § 153.26(C);
(I) When flood-proofing is utilized for a particular structure, obtain certifications from a registered professional engineer or architect in accordance with §§ 153.26(C) and 153.46(B);
(J) Where interpretation is needed as to the exact location of boundaries of the special flood hazard areas (for example, where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions), make the necessary interpretation. The person contesting the location of the boundary shall be given a reasonable opportunity to appeal the interpretation as provided in this subchapter;
(K) When Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data has not been provided in accordance with § 153.04, obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data, along with floodway data and/or non-encroachment area data available from a federal, state, or other source, including data developed pursuant to § 153.47(D), in order to administer the provisions of this chapter;
(L) When Base Flood Elevation (BFE) data is provided but no floodway nor non-encroachment area data has been provided in accordance with § 153.04, obtain, review, and reasonably utilize any floodway data, and/or non-encroachment area data available from a federal, state, or other source in order to administer the provisions of this chapter;
(M) When the exact location of boundaries of the special flood hazard areas conflict with the current, natural topography information at the site, the property owner may apply and be approved for a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) by FEMA. A copy of the Letter of Map Amendment issued from FEMA will be maintained by the Floodplain Administrator in the Floodplain Development Permit file;
(N) Permanently maintain all records that pertain to the administration of this chapter and make these records available for public inspection;
(O) Make on-site inspections of work in progress. As the work pursuant to a Floodplain Development Permit progresses, the Floodplain Administrator shall make as many inspections of the work as may be necessary to ensure that the work is being done according to the provisions of the local ordinance and the terms of the permit. In exercising this power, the Floodplain Administrator has a right, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter on any premises within the jurisdiction of the community at any reasonable hour for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action;
(P) Issue stop-work orders as required. Whenever a building or part thereof is being constructed, reconstructed, altered, or repaired in violation of this chapter, the Floodplain Administrator may order the work to be immediately stopped. The stop-work order shall be in writing and directed to the person doing the work. The stop-work order shall state the specific work to be stopped, the specific reason(s) for the stoppage, and the condition(s) under which the work may be resumed. Violation of a stop-work order constitutes a misdemeanor;
(Q) Revocation of Floodplain Development Permits as required. The Floodplain Administrator may revoke and require the return of the Floodplain Development Permit by notifying the permit holder in writing stating the reason(s) for the revocation. Permits shall be revoked for any substantial departure from the approved application, plans, or specifications; for refusal or failure to comply with the requirements of state or local laws; or for false statements or misrepresentations made in securing the permit. Any Floodplain Development Permit mistakenly issued in violation of an applicable state or local law may also be revoked;
(R) Make periodic inspections throughout all special flood hazard areas within the jurisdiction of the community. The Floodplain Administrator and each member of his or her inspections department shall have a right, upon presentation of proper credentials, to enter on any premises within the territorial jurisdiction of the department at any reasonable hour for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action; and
(S) Follow through with corrective procedures of § 153.28.
(Ord. passed 12-1-03)