While acknowledging many unknowns, Cambridge City town council heard residents’ concerns about rebuilding flood-damaged properties while also juggling annual responsibilities such as 2027 spending.
During its Sept. 14 meeting, council conducted a public hearing for the 2027 budget.
Town attorney Bob Bever said that during budget preparations before the Aug. 12 flood, the town planned to spend the same amount in 2027 as in 2026 to keep costs steady for residents.
However, because of extensive damage to town buildings, equipment and utilities, the town plans to request a slightly higher tax rate to offset some of those emergency expenses not covered by insurance. Council plans to approve the budget at its 6 p.m. Oct. 12 meeting at Lincoln Middle/High School, 205 E. Parkway Drive. About half the town’s revenue comes from the tax base, and the other half comes from fees or money from other funds such as cigarette and gas taxes.
Flood repairs
Several residents expressed frustration about delays in letting them begin to rebuild their properties as cold weather approaches, especially if they weren’t planning to accept money from Federal Emergency Management Agency or other government sources.
Speakers noted they’ve lived in their current properties for years — with one marking 50 years in that home — and they’ve never seen that much water in a short time. One said he’d already rebuilt after eight water backups from storm drain issues but now was being told he couldn’t.
Some said they don’t think they were told about any of these flood rules before purchasing the property or think they have been added in later years.
They questioned potential requirements from Indiana Department of Natural Resources, such as raising substantially damaged properties in the floodway at least two feet above the base flood elevation, or for furnaces or other large equipment to be brought up out of basements.
Homes in the flood fringe (outside the floodway) that had less than 50% damage can generally repair at the existing elevation, as can homes outside the floodplain, according to Indiana DNR materials shared earlier by the town.
However, Bever and council President Jim McLane cautioned residents to be patient, because the town is responsible for enforcing building codes, and those rules had to be put in place for any residents to be able to buy flood insurance.
If the rebuilding rules aren’t followed, homeowners could jeopardize state or federal funding for expensive town needs that impact all residents, such as water and wastewater repairs. They suggested that violations could also impact all residents’ abilities to obtain mortgages in the future if the town was booted out of the national flood insurance program.
Later that week, town officials shared a graphic on the town’s social media, explaining the appeal process for homes in the floodway and flood fringe that are assessed at more than 50% damage. They said that receiving a substantial damage determination can be confusing and concerning, and urge residents not to begin permanent reconstruction until they understand what permits and approvals are required for properties.
Residents with questions about damaged properties are urged to contact Joe Webb, public works superintendent, for more information. He is the town’s floodplain administrator and makes initial determinations. He said he relies on property assessment values on Wayne County’s website at wwn.to/waynecogis.
Residents who are unsatisfied with their determination can appeal it.
Some speakers thanked town leaders for their work despite never having trained for flood response.
One remarked, “You have a tough thing you have to do, and I wouldn’t want your job for all the tea in China.”
Some wondered why FEMA officials hadn’t been visible or easier to contact earlier. FEMA offered one-stop shops in town from Sept. 9-12.
Councilors said they’d received information from FEMA a few days earlier about how to seek funds for major town expenses and were beginning the application.
However, attendees raised frustrations about the ability to easily reach town employees, who are still struggling to gain installation of internet and phone services at their temporary location in the former school at 519 Queen St. in Pershing. Messages should be left on the city voicemail.
Water customers are asked to pick up their bills at the office on the west side of the school between 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. Questions about trash services or other issues also can be addressed to town hall.
Council also agreed to engage Kleinpeter Consulting to help with a Recovery Advance Program for Infrastructure Damage application through Indiana Bond Bank if the town determines that loans are needed. Funds could be used for debris removal, engineering, parks, utilities, sidewalks or other needs. The town can choose not to move forward with an application and then wouldn’t owe Kleinpeter.
In other business, council approved donations of $1,000 from Philip and Georgeette Langholz for flood relief and $100 from Mike and Teresa Amick for the feral cat fund.
A version of this article appeared in the September 23 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
