Site for new Marble Hill business raises flood concerns

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Although the Marble Hill Board of Aldermen gave its approval to Family Dollar Stores to put a store on Conrad Street next to Jay's Barbecue, the city's planning and zoning board has reservations about the building.

Family Dollar has agreed to raise the level of its building site to 8 feet, 2 inches over flood level, but some board members were concerned about the effect a flood might have on adjoining property when water would funnel around the new store and onto neighboring property.

"It would be nice to have a new store in town, but that's not a place for it," board member Gary Shrum said. "They will be displacing a lot of water. The city needs to develop its floodplain ordinance to read 'no new construction in the floodplain.'"

Family Dollar has had the area surveyed and, according to city administrative assistant Tammy Whitney, has approval from FEMA.

The Banner Press contacted a spokeswoman for Family Dollar to ask if the store had FEMA approval to build in the floodplain. The spokeswoman said she would look into it and respond, but as of press time had not.

"Family Dollar does know it's a floodplain," Whitney said at the planning and zoning meeting. "They like the location."

"We need the tax dollars and everything we can get, but do we do it to the extent of property damage to adjoining landowners?" Shrum said.

The board agreed to table any decision until it has more information.

Pertinent address:

Conrad Street, Marble Hill, MO