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2001 CONFERENCE

The 5th annual INAFSM conference was held at the Holiday Inn City Center in downtown South Bend, Indiana after being rescheduled following the tragic events of September 11. Conference highlights included the Certified Floodplain Manager's exam, elections for the 2002 INAFSM board, an exhibitor's reception, and the 2001 INAFSM awards presentation. The INAFSM board members wish to thank all of the speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and participants that made the 2001 conference a success.

2001 INAFSM Awards Recipients

Award Recipients: Back Row (L to R) Brad Stump, DeKalb County; Chris Schweitzer, City of Auburn; Glen Boise, Howard County; Chad Coughenour, Hancock County; Dick Vermillion, Knox County. Front Row (L to R) Rodney Renkenberger, INAFSM Chair; Mike DeBoy, Conference Chair; Debra Smith, INAFSM Secretary & Vice Chair Elect; Debbie Cook, City of Kokomo; Susan Bodkin, Hancock County; Siavash Beik, INAFSM Awards Chair.

INAFSM annually recognizes outstanding programs, projects, and individuals in the floodplain and stormwater management fields. This past year, awards in the following categories were presented to members during the 2001 Annual Conference.

Award categories include:

Excellence in Stormwater Management Award
Outstanding Stormwater Project Award
Excellence in Floodplain Management Award
Outstanding Floodplain Project Award
Excellent Strides in Floodplain Management Program Award
Chairman's Award for Outstanding Service in Support of the INAFSM

Excellence in Stormwater Management Award

Established in 1997, this award recognizes an outstanding stormwater management program or an outstanding stormwater manager. This award may be bestowed annually upon a local unit of government or an individual, affiliated with the state or a local government, who has consistently demonstrated leadership in the area of stormwater management and has instituted a pro-active approach consistent with the INAFSM vision of sound water resources management in the State of Indiana.

This year's recipient of the INAFSM Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management is Kevin Kirk of the City of Indianapolis. He is an individual that in his 20 years of service as a Stormwater Project Manager has directed many watershed studies and stormwater construction projects. He has been instrumental in helping finalize a stormwater master plan and a stormwater utility for the City. He has also been the key person in the adoption and implementation of the City's stormwater quality ordinance. This individual is a member of INAFSM and a well-respected professional within his field. He continues to be a leader in stormwater management in the jurisdiction he workds in and the State of Indiana.

Outstanding Stormwater Project Award

Established in 1998, this award recognizes an outstanding stormwater project studied, designed, or constructed by a firm for a local unit of government or a private entity. This award may be bestowed annually upon both the "representing firm" and the "project owner".

This year's recipient of the INAFSM Award for an Outstanding Stormwater PRoject is the first recipient of this award. The award is presented to Knox County Drainage Task Force for their February 2000 Plan and Final Report. This entity, through a cooperative process and use of dedicated volunteers, created a very practical plan that compiled and analyzed drainage and stormwater issues in the County. This easy to read plan also established drainage needs and goals, prioritized goals, provided public educational opportunities, and made specific recommendations, all in a relatively short time.

Excellence in Floodplain Management Award

Established in 1997, this award recognizes an outstanding floodplain management program or an outstanding floodplain manager. This award may be bestowed annually upon a local unit of government or an individual, affiliated with the state or a local government, who has consistently demonstrated leadership in the area of floodplain management and has instituted a pro-active approach consistent with the INAFSM vision of sound water resources management in the State of Indiana.

This year's INAFSM Award for Excellence in Floodplain Managment goes to two local governmental units that have joined hands to develop highly detailed and accurate base maps and topographic data, to among other things, modernize their aging floodplain maps. Together, they have been able to provide the necessary background data and cost-share for redelineating floodplain boundaries along several miles of previously studied streams in an urbanizing area. The level of cooperation exhibited by these two entities is exactly what is needed to make such map modernization efforts a success. This year's joint recipients are DeKalb County and the City of Auburn.

Outstanding Floodplain Project Award

Established in 1998, this award recognizes an outstanding floodplain project studied, designed, or constructed by a firm for a local unit of government or a private entity. This award may be bestowed annually upon both the "representing firm" and the "project owner".

This year's INAFSM Award for Outstanding Floodplain Project goes to flood mitigation projects initiated in a highly urbanized stream by two local governmental units, Howard County and the City of Kokomo, for their Wildcat Creek Flood Hazard Mitigation Projects. These two local governments have worked closely together to develop two very outstanding Flood Hazard Mitigation Plans and have started the implementation of these plans by purchasing and demolishing several residential buildings located within the floodway and pursuing buyout and floodproofing of several others. Howard County and the City of Kokomo are the first recipients of this prestigious award.

Excellent Strides in Floodplain Management Program Award

Established in 1998, this award recognizes the most improved floodplain management program. This award may be bestowed annually upon a local unit of government that has succeeded in, or has made a noteworthy effort towards, significantly improving its floodplain management program.

This year's recipient of the INAFSM Excellent Strides in Floodplain Management Program Award is Hancock County, a community that has recently stepped up its floodplain management program by updating the current permitting process to include a check-off procedure for identification of floodplain development, updating the County's floodplain regulations to ensure compliance with current NFIP and State floodplain regulations, reorganizing the duties of the designated floodplain administrator in order to better implement the County's floodplain management program, initiating review and restudy the flood hazard mapping of some of the County's significant flooding sources, initiating the enrollment procedures to join the Community Rating System program, and being active in receiving training in IDNR-sponsored flooplain management workshops, as well as, investing time, money, and efforts to pursue Certification of key staff as ASFPM Certified Floodplain Managers.

Chairman's Award for Outstanding Service in Support of the INAFSM

Established in 1997, this award seeks to recognize an individual with outstanding service in support of INAFSM. This award may be bestowed annually upon an individual (member or non-member) that, in the opinion of the INAFSM Chair, has provided an outstanding service in support of the Association.

This year's recipient of the Chairman's Award for Outstanding Service in Support of the INAFSM is Debra Smith. She is a founding member of INAFSM. Her work on the Board as both Secretary and a past Liaison with DNR and with this year's conference was invaluable. She is a true believer in nurturing sound, safe floodplain management through statewide education.