Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I began writing several weeks ago because I was concerned that our citizens were not getting the best information about the FEMA floodplain ordinance that was being considered by Mathews County. I was also concerned that important provisions were not well understood and, more importantly, that there was widespread confusion as to what was mandatory and what was not.

That confusion remains to some extent, but certain important provisions that were determined to be optional and not in our best interest have been removed, thanks to our board of supervisors. This process has been imperfect and has resulted in an ordinance which does not necessarily meet with the board members’ expectations for a finished product.

The problem, however, is the fact that it has to be passed and forwarded consecutively to three government reviewers for approval before Dec. 9. As such, it was determined that Mathews should do everything it can to insure that its citizens are ab...