Help could be on the way for a group of Palmerton residents who seek relief from their high flood insurance rates.

A hint of optimism was in the air as borough council on Thursday discussed the situation that continues to affect residents who primarily live in the area of the 400 block of Franklin Avenue.Due to the federal government raising the rates within the past year or so, flood insurance has risen substantially for some borough residents who pay as much as $200 to $300 per month.Councilman Kris Hoffner told council that a meeting was held this past Monday at borough hall to discuss and formulate a plan to provide relief to residents in that area with their National Flood Insurance Premiums.Among those in attendance were Hoffner; council President Terry Costenbader; borough Manager Rodger Danielson; state Rep. Doyle Heffley; Timm Berger, assistant to Heffley; Bill Richards, assistant to state Sen. John Yudichak; Marta Gabriel, regional manager for state Sen. Pat Toomey; and Theresa Walsh, CGW, grants coordinator for state Sen. Toomey.Hoffner said Walsh, who works closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the group what must be done to develop an action plan.As part of their meeting, the group took a walk to the borough park to get a firsthand look at the park stream, as well as the 40-plus homes located in the flood zone, he said.Through the guidance of Walsh, Hoffner said the group formulated the following plan: Walsh will send a "privacy release form" to Danielson; the borough will authorize an "elevation study" to be conducted by its engineering firm, Keystone Consulting; Keystone Consulting will issue "elevation certificates" to all affected homeowners; and FEMA will use the elevation certificates to conduct a "fact-finding mission."Hoffner said the last time a study was conducted at neighboring Park Creek was by air in 2002."I have a good feeling," Hoffner said. "We're optimistic."Costenbader said the study will not only be conducted for those homes affected on Franklin, but also on portions of Lafayette Avenue, Lehigh Avenue and Delaware Avenue, where the floodplain carries on."Hopefully, we can get some relief there," Costenbader said. "It should be done or looked at within the next 30 days."Councilman Richard Nothstein then asked if the high insurance premiums were the reason four homes in the western end of the 400 block of Franklin Avenue were up for sale.Resident Andrew Jordan, who lives at 440 Franklin Ave., said it is the reason the homes are up for sale and are not selling.Hoffner said, "Rep. Heffley said this has to be changed at the federal level. We're hopefully spearheading this to get this done."Costenbader said council was going to "try to get some relief for the residents."For months, residents primarily along the first half of the 400 block of Franklin Avenue, east of Park Creek, have brought their concerns over their mounting flood insurance premiums to council.The area is in an A 01 floodplain, the most severe plain that exists under FEMA.As defined by FEMA, a floodplain is any land area susceptible to being inundated by floodwaters from any source.