Bill would give annexation power to communities affected by flooding

LINCOLN--Nebraska’s historic flooding clobbered small towns across the state last spring and has still left many pondering what to do for the aftermath or if the flooding happens again.

Some consider taking a buyout, relocating their homes or staying in what’s left of the town -- damaged buildings and piles of rubbles.

Some community members in Winslow, a village north of Fremont with a population that hovered around 100 before disaster struck, want to relocate to higher ground.

LB1003, introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont to the Urban Affairs Committee, would allow smaller communities to annex lands, lots, tracts, streets or highways to relocate all of part of town because of ‘catastrophic flooding’ while waiving a state law requirement of characterizing annexed areas as contiguous or adjacent and urban or suburban.

Current Nebraska law does not allow Winslow to move because new municipalities are required to have a population of at least 100.

Although FEMA impacts towns damaged in last year’s flooding, they will not be reimbursed again if the flood occurs again, Walz said.

“The flood season is upon us, and the time is of the essence,” Walz said.

Zachary Klein, Winslow Village trustee and volunteer fire chief, was one of the three people who testified in support of LB1003. He said while the cost of moving a new town is expensive, he said the legislation would give a chance for his community to rebuild itself.

The bill would require a two-thirds vote of either a city council or the village board to annex land.

If the bill passes, it is not a guarantee the relocation happens, Klein said. However, without the legislation, the community will have no chance of starting over.

“With this legislation, it is not a guarantee the relocation happens,” Klein said. “However, without this legislation, it’s a guarantee it does not.”

No testified against the bill. The committee took no immediate action on it.