County Board extends state of emergency for storm recovery till January 2025

The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors convened on December 3, 2024, to address several pressing issues, including budgetary concerns, storm recovery efforts, and solid waste management.

The meeting began with a discussion on the supplemental budget approved last month, which anticipates the completion of a new landfill cell by the end of December. Officials noted that FEMA is expected to cover up to 75% of costs associated with the landfill operations, although the recovery period may extend over two years. The board acknowledged that expenditures on waste diversion have been lower than initially projected, with ongoing discussions about the management of leachate pumps due to increased waste intake.

A motion was made and approved to allocate $31,000 for the elevation of leachate pumps, which are currently facing operational challenges due to excess waste. The funding will be sourced from the landfill budget, with a contingency plan in place should additional funds be required in February.

Following this, the board moved to public hearings, specifically addressing an amendment to the solid waste management plan. The chairman proposed suspending procedural rules to expedite administrative matters, which was unanimously approved.

The meeting then shifted focus to storm recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The board discussed extending the state of emergency until January 10, 2025, to facilitate claims processing with FEMA and expedite procurement for recovery efforts. A total of 1,677 claims have been filed, with estimated damages to residential properties reaching approximately $3.8 million, alongside significant agricultural losses estimated at $11 million.

The board also explored potential agricultural relief measures, considering a program to assist farmers with costs incurred from storm damage, particularly for chainsaw purchases. However, there was a consensus to table this discussion for the next meeting to gather further input from agricultural extension representatives.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the board's proactive approach to managing budgetary constraints, addressing storm recovery, and ensuring effective waste management in Tazewell County. The next steps include further discussions on agricultural relief and continued assessments of storm-related damages.