Part of the bridge as well as a section of Route 14 in Trout Run were destroyed by the Tropical Storm. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette
In order to help area residents whose properties have sustained damage from the flooding related to tropical storm Debby last week, the county is waiving zoning permit fees in the affected municipalities that partner with the county.
“David Hubbard, our zoning administrator has been receiving a lot of calls about what kind of permits do I need because the county has a zoning partnership ordinance which covers 19 municipalities and quite a few of them are in these rural areas that have seen a lot of issues with their residences or businesses,” Shannon Rossman, director of the county’s Planning and Community Development Department, told the Lycoming County commissioners at their meeting this week.
“We thought it appropriate that for a period of 90 days that we would not waive the permit, but waive the fee for the permit,” she added.
She indicated that the move was prompted by all the questions that had been coming to their office about what was necessary to rebuild after the flood waters swept through the area.
“He will be getting these building permits for not necessarily rebuilding, but fixing some of the issues,” Rossman said.
The 90-day waiver period began Aug. 9.
For those individuals who live in municipalities that aren’t partnered with county zoning, Rossman said they are referring them to the proper entity to help them
She noted that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is setting up a multi-agency resource center Monday through Wednesday next week at the Hepburn Township Fire Hall, 615 Route 973 east, from noon to 8 p.m.
Information on the following topics will be available at the event: fraud and repair scams, food safety, replacement documentation, recovery information, post flood regulatory resources, safe water test kits, educational materials and insurance information and more.
“We’ll be there. We’ll assist anybody we can,” Rossman said.
One of the problems, she said, with smaller municipalities is that officials are often out of the office assessing the damage so it’s harder to find someone to answer concerns.
“Even though we don’t control their regulations we are trying to help them, point them in the right direction, where to go,” she said
It is key that people have all their information ready to give to the relevant agencies. Rossman also emphasized that property owners should document all the damage.
The Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company is offering a shuttle to the event which will depart their command post at 5:30 p.m. each day.
They also announced that anyone who needs bleach to clear their water lines prior to testing should come to the tented area at the fire hall.
The Department of Environmental Protection will be setting designated turn in points for the water test kits, which will be announced as soon as the information is available.
