Residents urge Louisa County to halt easement action on FEMA Lot 6 until FEMA signs off

Lou Anne Timmerman, a local property owner, told the Louisa County Board of Supervisors she objects to Resolution 202637, which would create a nonexclusive easement affecting Lot 6. Timmerman read deed restrictions tied to FEMA mitigation grants and cited federal rules, saying the county must obtain prior written approval from FEMA before transferring interests in the parcel. "I'm Lou Anne Timmerman, and I'm objecting to the resolution 202637," she said during the public hearing.

Richard Terman, another resident who described himself as a property owner in Elric, said prior attempts to manage or lease FEMA lots had generated disputes and alleged incidents he said were documented in court records. He told the board there had been trespassing and assaults involving Pogue Miller and others and urged the supervisors to delay any consensus: "We've been assaulted by mister Brogan Miller and his sons. My wife's been punched in the face," Terman said. Other commenters asked whether county actions could jeopardize future mitigation grants or violate federal conditions attached to buyouts.

During the board's regular-session discussion, staff and supervisors debated next steps. A county staff speaker recommended conditioning approval on FEMA regional-administrator sign-off and delaying execution until FEMA signs; a supervisor proposed sending a formal letter and waiting at least 30 days for a response. "My recommendation is based on the court ruling is that the board either approve the resolution subject to the approval of the FEMA administrator and then wait to sign everything until they've signed off," the staff member said. The board agreed to draft and send a letter to the FEMA regional office and to revisit the item after a 30-day response period or at the scheduled September meeting.

The hearing record shows residents raising two central concerns: (1) whether the county complied with deed restrictions and federal mitigation rules (44 CFR part 80) when it took and proposed to transfer an interest in Lot 6; and (2) whether past court-ordered activity and local condemnations were adequately reported to FEMA. The board did not adopt or sign the easement at the meeting; instead members directed staff to request FEMA confirmation in writing and deferred final action pending that response. The board also signaled it would hold further public meetings if needed to address community concerns.

Next steps: the board will send a formal letter to the FEMA regional administrator, allow a 30-day response window, and place the item on a future agenda for follow-up.