ROCK SPRINGS — After much concern about restrictions on development of the village's business strip, Rock Springs officials said Monday that none of the businesses damaged by flooding in June are in an area that would prevent them from rebuilding.

But the village likely will lose a street due to demolitions.

Appropriately enough, it started raining during Monday night's meeting of the Village Board. It caused the ears of those in attendance to perk up, but not for long.

"The sand bags are already up," Village President Harlan Behnke said. "We don't have to worry."

Village Board members were in the midst of approving building permits for several homeowners and businesses. That came as welcome news after village officials raised the possibility that the downtown area might be "dead" because of limitations on building in flood-prone areas.

Under current rules, any structure considered part of the flood zone would not be eligible to be rebuilt. Structures in the flood fringe can rebuild within state Department of Natural Resources guidelines, Behnke said.

At Monday night's meeting, he said no businesses are considered part of the flood zone.

Board members approved building permits for four downtown businesses, including an estimated $50,000 of repairs to the Coach House restaurant, $20,000 to the Post Office, $20,000 to the Baraboo National Bank and $35,000 to the On the Rocks restaurant.

Only two homes in the village are considered part of the flood zone, board members said. But there is a strong possibility that all the homes on Maple Street will be demolished and not rebuilt.

Behnke and Trustee Duane Neises said it may not make sense to maintain the street anymore, and suggested a water main that runs along the street be taken out of commission.

There was no discussion regarding the ultimate future of the village, although a Federal Emergency Management Agency team has been sent to the area to aid the recovery effort. FEMA will provide funding and planning assistance, but plans must be approved by the state, said FEMA spokeswoman Marquita Hynes.

Water from Narrows Creek and the Baraboo River submerged downtown Rock Springs on June 8. Apartment buildings and 26 residences were evacuated, causing about 70 people to leave the village, officials have said.

The village soon will begin the process of assessing the fair market value of homes before the flood as part of the state's hazard mitigation program, which could offer some homeowners the opportunity to be bought out of their homes.