Interview. Pays de Meaux: what is the money from the new Gemapi tax used for?

For two years, an additional column has appeared on the sheet of the property tax of the inhabitants of the Pays de Meaux: the Gemapi. An additional tax that the elected representatives of the urban community have chosen to introduce to finance flood prevention works of which the territory has been increasingly victimized in recent years.

Two years later, what work has been carried out? Have the first objectives been achieved? We take stock with the vice-president in charge of Sustainable Development at the Pays de Meaux urban community, Régis Sarazin.

The maintenance and management of waterways already existed before. Why did you establish Gemapi?

Régis Sarazin: Before, these skills fell to unions which did not have the means to carry out the work, hence the transfer of skills to urban communities. The Rutel union did not cover the entire Pays de Meaux, it was expanded and it became the mixed Marne and Rus union of the Pays de Meaux.

The elected representatives of the urban community voted unanimously to introduce this tax, even by towns which will surely never be flooded. Solidarity on this subject is important, this is not the case in all intermunicipalities.

Since the tax was introduced in 2022, what has happened?

We have launched a very important study of the watersheds, going from Chambry to Nanteuil. The objective is to study runoff water, because it is this that very often causes us problems. Much more than the flooding of the Marne, for example.

This basin extends over 80 km2 and includes 24 km of rivers, streams and streams which ultimately flow into the Marne. The study should help us identify the problems of the territory and find suitable development solutions to combat these excesses.

For the moment, studies have been launched. But what actions were carried out?

We started by cleaning our rus, which had not been done, and mainly those located in Chauconin-Neufmontiers and Villenoy. The inhabitants of these two municipalities were heavily flooded in July 2021. Moreover, this year, despite the heavy rains this winter, there was no flooding in these two municipalities and we can be happy about that. .

We also provided protection to cities that requested it. These are flexible or rigid barriers which have the function of diverting runoff water.

We also removed ice jams which were blocking streams and causing overflows in places.

The streams and small rivers swell very quickly, with a very significant influx of water. It is essential to maintain them well.

What projects will take place this year?

We are going to rehabilitate the banks of the Gironnette pond at the Pâtis park in Meaux. They show strong degradation. In Monthyon, we are going to restore the Grue pond.

But above all, we are working on the creation of a flood expansion zone (ZEC, Editor’s note) with Seine Grands Lacs, in Chauconin-Neufmontiers. The idea is to create areas where water will be retained, upstream, to prevent it from flooding towns downstream. A site has already been identified at Chauconin-Neufmontiers.

Historically, these areas were used for pastures and flood expansion, but over time they were transformed into fields. We are going to give them back their function, working with farmers.

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