By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Jasper County will file paperwork today as the first formal step in an effort aimed at buying out homes in the Kendricktown area that are subject to flooding.

Members of the County Commission noted the deadline in their general session Thursday.

“This first form is just to tell them that we’re interested,” said John Bartosh, presiding commissioner. “It’s going to be a long process.”

Commissioners have been talking for several weeks with state and federal emergency management officials about whether the Kendricktown area north of Carthage would qualify for a federal buyout.

“This is the kind of project FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is interested in,” said Keith Stammer, emergency management coordinator for Joplin and Jasper County. “The only question will be whether funding is available.”

Bartosh said the county is mapping the area and gathering information. About nine landowners along Spring River are affected by the flooding. The paperwork is being filed by officials with Tri-State Engineering, which oversees the county’s flood-plain management program.

Officials with FEMA reviewed the area Thursday and gave county officials some computer software that will be used to gather information about flooding to support the county’s request, according to Chris Chappell, geographic information system coordinator in the assessor’s office.

If the buyout is approved, federal funds would pay 75 percent of the costs to buy the properties, with the county paying the remaining 25 percent. The county then would take possession of the property to make sure no one builds there, Stammer said.

“This is the first step; it could take as long as two years,” he said.

In other business Thursday, Jim Honey, Eastern District commissioner, said meetings will be held Wednesday with landowners whose properties would be affected by bridge projects scheduled for later this year. He also said the county will put on a waste-tire collection program next Thursday at the road department building on North River Street in Carthage.

Commissioners also approved plans for road work at Wildwood Ranch, a commercial and residential development planned for west of Joplin, and approved requests for the county clerk’s office to prepare property-tax books for Carthage and Neck City.