Lambertville namd Ken Rogers, who already is its construction official, to the position.
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The city’s construction official recently has been named a certified floodplain manager.
Ken Rogers earned the credential in November, becoming one of only 55 certified floodplain managers in the state. Three years ago, there were only three.
To become certified, he completed hours of study on his own time and had to pass a three-hour exam.
Lambertville, a city that has had three floods in recent years, can benefit from having an official with the certification, according to John Miller of the Planning Board.
”The town is in much better shape if this person has this training,” Mr. Miller said. “What this gives Ken is an additional breadth of knowledge. It is really something someone should have in a municipality when they’re reviewing permits.”
Mr. Miller also is a certified floodplain manager, but he said he is not in the position Mr. Rogers is to review construction permits and enforce codes.
”There’s so much that I don’t see and can’t see, and I’m not authorized to see,” he said.
That’s why Mr. Rogers’ certification is such a “big deal,” Mr. Miller added.
In addition to serving as Lambertville’s construction official, Mr. Rogers also is the city’s building subcode official and a mechanical inspector. He also plans to test for a fire inspector’s license.
The floodplain manager certification will allow him to advise property owners if the property changes or new construction they propose meets guidelines set forth by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the national flood insurance program.
Lambertville “got lucky this year” when it did not experience a flood, Mr. Miller said.
”But we’re going to get it again,” he said. “The more we can do as a city to minimize our exposure is extremely beneficial.”
In special flood hazard areas, such as areas that flooded several times like Ferry and Swan streets, his rulings are enforceable.
If property owners do not comply, their flood insurance premiums would be “so astronomically high, they would pay for it,” Mr. Rogers said.
For example, the rate could rise from about $1,000 a year to $10,000.
Outside the special flood hazard areas, Mr. Rogers’ determinations are simply recommendations.
”But somebody smart and intelligent building next door to a house that flooded would be wise” to accept his recommendations, Mr. Rogers said.
”The role of the nation’s floodplain managers is expanding due to increases in disaster losses, the emphasis being placed upon mitigation to alleviate the cycle of damage-rebuild-damage and a recognized need for professionals to adequately address these issues,” according to the Association of State Floodplain Managers. “This certification program will lay the foundation for ensuring that highly qualified individuals are available to meet the challenge of breaking the damage cycle and stopping its negative drain on the nation’s human, financial and natural resources.”

