[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6071036,"mediaKeyId","3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e","parentId",3048249,"title","Emergency management: Baker County fires program manager, sees some FEMA reimbursements but disputes remain on major projects","audioSeconds",459,"startMs",941000,"endMs",1400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e&start=941&end=1400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e/thumbnail_941000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6071036/Baker-County/Florida/Emergency-management-Baker-County-fires-program-manager-sees-some-FEMA-reimbursements-but-disputes-remain-on-major-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071036-e0da87c9ee859e625042561fb1769e42/orig.mp4?Expires=1775434390&Signature=X8CQ2-yc3hzSYJL~lp~dskNQJS13x6NXBmYlScuOH3n55SglFufzxYdkCFNPcyS4VbA4v4xClvQztHDNfmNHp1Uscy18ma3POv-9WDV~NYqh0MEiI1yXm3pQPUxbGAsXwFbprb-nfXDAtLxhhR7uD0wfIWiVR0oePhaS85nTs0-3MggyIMppAuP~ubfIwBHVq4nxDGFDkTH~yRonSwLbTG2I96FMgYuaXsk80oXgLgLIsNmHAXJmieQTtkRiCLlbQOuAtwlUqimt-Xg9-JKCPrP7~B9OnpNrlDDhr1hLInuvyrVSiG7xMyC250xiBrtQIy-ysH0TbNzZAzlmiydc5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baker County, FL ","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","Baker County emergency management staff told the commission they have requested and secured replacement of a FEMA program manager assigned to the county's recovery projects after repeated problems negotiating project values with FEMA's Consolidated Recovery Center (CRC).

Dennis Bratcher and county staff described months of repeated questions, inconsistent CRC valuations, and slow progress on large mitigation and permanent-work projects. Bratcher said the county and the Florida Department of Emergency Management asked FEMA to reassign the PDMG; the county said the swap occurred quickly and that early signs show improved communications.

Reimbursements and obligations
- Individual assistance: Bratcher reported FEMA individual-assistance payments of approximately $2.5 million for two county residents after Hurricane Helene and about $1.2 million for claims after Hurricane Debbie. He said grants ranged from roughly $7,800 to more than $510,000 per household where insurance left gaps.
- Sheriff's Office reimbursement: The county reported FEMA obligations of roughly $31,000 to the sheriff's office for Helene-related overtime and roughly $18,000 for Debbie.
- County reimbursement: The county said it had been notified of roughly $50,000 in obligated funds for county-level expenses for certain projects.

Specific project issues
- Boat ramp (Shoals Park): County engineers submitted a project estimate of about $895,000 to FEMA; the CRC returned an obligation amount of about $252,000 (CRC value), leaving a large gap. County staff said they will push the CRC and expect values to shift after the PDMG change and after requesting engineering quotes rather than estimates.
- Kirkland Branch / FHWA: One damaged culvert (Kirkland Branch) has been removed from FEMA consideration after federal-highway jurisdiction was identified; the county must work with FHWA/FDOT, and county staff said FDOT had not yet scheduled a follow-up inspection but had agreed to re-inspect.
- Steelbridge Road: Multiple culverts and washouts complicate quantification; county said negotiations with CRC continue.

Process changes and next steps
County staff said they will change from preliminary estimates to engineer-quoted RFPs for project costs and will press FEMA and the new PDMG to recognize the engineer recommendations. Staff plan to issue RFPs for several projects and expects clearer CRC valuations under the new program manager.

Why it matters: Several large public-works projects were down-valued by FEMA's CRC, leaving substantial funding gaps for repairs and mitigation. The county is pursuing formal negotiations and will shift to RFP-based cost documentation to strengthen claims. County commissioners were briefed for budget and policy implications.

No vote was taken on recovery items themselves at the meeting; commissioners were updated and staff were directed to continue negotiations and prepare RFPs where applicable.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Baker County Board of County Commissioners Workshop, Regular Meeting, Public Hearing (Continued) 4/15/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Emergency management told the commission it replaced its FEMA program manager amid repeated negotiation failures with FEMA's CRC and reported $2.5 million and $1.2 million in individual-assistance obligations for two storms, while disputes with FEMA persist on several public-work projects, notably a coastal boat ramp.","taxTitle","Baker County, Florida","taxId",71807,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071032,"Jewish Family & Community Services forms long-term recovery team after hotel sheltering finds dozens of displaced households in Baker County",940,2165000,3105000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e&start=2165&end=3105","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e/thumbnail_2165000.jpg","/articles/6071032/Baker-County/Florida/Jewish-Family-Community-Services-forms-long-term-recovery-team-after-hotel-sheltering-finds-dozens-of-displaced-households-in-Baker-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071032-9297c4f56c7a88d9749d63d67928082f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775434390&Signature=oE9QB21CPvqLEHPuDq2xlu9ZIYZuPLrHIUXFznLI8i6FILzPoIYa9Fzrfz50v9yAvEWC0yvV71M7A2JIH3~iHhayTLUo9F6Kdc3Cp~NkKvJdv4~pUi2OvZ2VBQKOIrGq2O~8MkeLqb0JpO9SggZyLlxX29tx2GZeOgETD6iWj87l-MLpu~AMscTBhO7Zd9Wbxc5B27mTM4DJS4SwmJoOvGBNSjyRT3I-V2Szyh9YGKH5ATpXcltqXeyxN33JRAJbdrqlSvHA6-n20tzP52FbJq39ZGSfcBBEYD2bJVSeBoME5JTvDlcOUS8UfJZGkQTDvkFMNhCwiwahyyhYM07xzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colleen Rodriguez, CEO of LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS), told the commission she and partner agencies formed a Baker County long-term recovery committee and have been directly assisting displaced households who were living in motels after storms.

What JFCS found and did
- JFCS said it was asked by the sheriff's office to visit hotels in Baker County where residents had been placed through FEMA. In early March teams found 16 households at the Travelodge and three households at the Red Roof Inn; JFCS estimated the total earlier as 18 households and 48 individuals.
- By April 10 FEMA hotel assistance had ended for remaining Travelodge residents; JFCS said several households checked out and their whereabouts are unknown. For the 6 households remaining at one visit (22 individuals including two people with disabilities), JFCS arranged moves for two households into new apartments (deposits, rent and moving paid), extended two households' hotel stays under an agreement, moved one household to neighboring Chiefland for work reasons, and worked to place the family with nine children temporarily with relatives while pursuing a stable local placement.
- JFCS provided meals, financial assistance and case management. Rodriguez said some residents had not received food for weeks.

Partnerships and funding
- Rodriguez said JFCS coordinated with United Way, Red Cross, local churches, and the sheriff's office to help residents, and has applied for more than $350,000 in mental-health and domestic-violence/substance-use funding to serve Baker and surrounding counties.
- JFCS said it seeks funding for a one-year local coordinator position (through June 2026) to build local service coordination, stand up a food pantry in donated space, and identify and fill other service gaps; the Red Cross and local recovery groups indicated potential short-term funding for the position.

Why it matters: County staff told commissioners they lacked a single local organization to coordinate long-term recovery for displaced residents; JFCS proposed to fill that role, lead a long-term recovery group and help households transition from temporary FEMA hotel placements to stable housing in Baker County.

Commissioner questions and staff notes
Commissioners asked about scope, whether the position would be part of COAD/long-term recovery structure, and how churches and local providers would be integrated. Rodriguez said JFCS will work with United Way and local groups, would not duplicate existing services, and wants to centralize referrals and gap-filling. She said some families were missed by FEMA and had been identified by the hospital and Red Cross.

No formal county funding decision was made; staff said they will coordinate with JFCS and partner agencies and seek short-term funding sources while pursuing longer-term options.","Jewish Family & Community Services representatives told the board they found dozens of households living in motels after storms, helped place several families into apartments, provided food and case management, and requested funding to support a local long-term recovery coordinator through June 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071027,"Votes at a glance: ordinances, subdivision replat, roof bid and county ambulance renewals approved",0,3785000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e&start=3785&end=3785","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e/thumbnail_3785000.jpg","/articles/6071027/Baker-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-ordinances-subdivision-replat-roof-bid-and-county-ambulance-renewals-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071027-07802dd4b60b5b378f23675b6036f172/orig.mp4?Expires=1775434390&Signature=ZoGQCzILbExL6AKqCRiT9yAJ~yoZ9ChHyz6GELW8BAHFlriJU5sfavDEdQfnSPXf~mzHJ33kBfWtEutk5s5NPE-3B7lkFMAPiCJKzzCXLz0xfmNm-C7lk9ABUZpEipTreFB-hQ~04qlc9MzXTo78LlNbGU7BcrgipagPGewi0-ztufVJSlyiDJ9wobSO3wB492IyQ9SJePH1dfPV-GvjjW2ZGdOXmAMIC0LUz4~ZX14XBzhJYTUeXz7NhTfVVr4XjFyUQHYEUu3rZJ1Duh-focLiw1BSojo1HAlZjDAPge1~VlYqcXKtkJKa216K-kPXSTiECflsjrCCRdBcD9QI7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This summary lists formal actions taken by the Baker County Board of County Commissioners during the April public meeting. Each action below is drawn from the official meeting record and reflects motions, seconds and recorded outcomes.

Key outcomes
- Agenda changes approved: The board approved the meeting agenda with two public-hearing items removed (Ordinances 2025-06 and 2025-07 were deferred).
- Consent agenda: The consent agenda was approved by unanimous voice vote.
- Proclamation: The board adopted a proclamation designating May 11'17, 2025 as National Police Week in Baker County (passed, voice vote).
- Ordinances (second reading/adoption): The board approved second readings and adopted the following zoning ordinances that were before the board for final action:
- Ordinance 2025-03 (rezoning ~10.01 acres owned by Alan Pippins from AG-7.5 to AG-5): Approved, motion and second, voice vote.
- Ordinance 2025-04 (rezoning ~6.45 acres owned by Cynthia Rollerson from AG-7.5 to AG-5): Approved, motion and second, voice vote.
- Ordinance 2025-08 (rezoning ~5 acres owned by Briar Patterson from AG-7.5 to AG-5): Approved, motion and second, voice vote.
- Subdivision replat (final action): Replat of Block 5 of the Collarfield Subdivision (divide block into six residential lots, all one acre or larger): Approved, motion and second, voice vote.
- Roof bid and waiver (housing rehabilitation project on Wit Ruest Road): The board awarded an HCA Construction & Roofing bid for $27,500 for a roof and approved a waiver to exceed the program's maximum award limit by $2,931 (total project $37,931 vs. $35,000 maximum); both motions passed by voice vote.
- COPCN renewals (EMS ambulance certificates): The board approved renewal of five Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) agreements for private ambulance providers operating in Baker County (renewals approved by motion). The county manager and staff recommended adopting a future fee schedule for initial and renewal COPCN applications; staff will return with a proposed fee policy for board consideration.
- Resolution 2025-07 (interlocal local-option fuel-tax distribution): The board tabled Resolution 2025-07 and directed staff to schedule the required public hearing and statutory biennial review before adoption; motion to table carried.

Items discussed but not decided
- Several first-reading land-use amendment and rezoning requests were heard (Ordinances 2025-09, -10, -11, -12, -13, -14, -15, -16 and related companions). Those were first-reading/public-hearing discussions only; no final action was taken at this meeting for the items listed as \"first hearing\".

Why this matters: The actions adopted change local zoning for multiple parcels, move forward with a subdivision replat that enables the sale/development of previously platted acreage, and authorize repairs and a minor grant award can exceed program maximums in one home-rehab project. The COPCN renewals maintain the number of licensed ambulance providers in the county.

If you need the board minutes or the precise ordinance texts and parcel descriptions, the clerk's office keeps the adopted ordinances, recorded plats and contract documents on file.","At the April meeting the Baker County Board approved several zoning ordinances on second reading, a subdivision replat, a roof bid and a waiver to the maximum award limit, and renewed five COPCN ambulance certificates; one county resolution (interlocal fuel-tax distribution) was tabled for required public hearing.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6071040,"Baker County state attorney outlines digital evidence system, flags $12,000 county budget request",908,172000,1080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e&start=172&end=1080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048249-ab060961c05955cfd76a98d589266d4e/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6071040/Baker-County/Florida/Baker-County-state-attorney-outlines-digital-evidence-system-flags-12000-county-budget-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6071040-d7956d2afa23a0372d2103d25c0aa834/orig.mp4?Expires=1775434390&Signature=SUSjZjxuEmsRKCfs7CuXsv9yxlDUFqoXvQ8Gi0MbHogrHPtsSVTnDIlkQl8ymopEf6PiaIAXhTMdmeE2HfewuBw0GVVT9MuOiFaVCTTr8NetEq-k-6D6gSa0D5xgxCFZfVabdYED4pGiKhHvPx0iTJ-PXRuOvAQS4RFZbjMQUzHY5XdECLrc6Jwuf-qKC5KahXP2om8ENIe0gfE2jLsXEI4jEj0OMv95huejfQTE9y~NI0PFN-5IfZuutG4YVU9MaDbE8N67zi8utn4zR7zDkH8wLp9OCfd3tcHwZ7c9QaGqEDOQyl-fhSNLlogJwcFazEgaqq2w65yoh0GanNmpQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Kramer, the newly reelected state attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, told the Baker County Board of County Commissioners that his office is deploying a digital evidence management system and will ask the county to pay its share of the recurring cost.

Kramer said the circuit's prosecution offices are receiving far larger volumes of digital forensic evidence than in the past ' including body-worn camera footage, cell-phone downloads, license-plate reader data and other media ' and that manual handling is no longer sustainable. He said a vendor called Nice Justice provides a system where evidence can be uploaded, indexed and integrated into the office's case-management system.

The system will run as a shared IT operation across the six counties in the circuit; Kramer said cost is apportioned by population, and Baker County's share is expected to be about $12,000. Kramer told commissioners the county already supplies space, communications and computers to the state attorney's local office and that the new digital platform should produce efficiency gains across law enforcement and prosecution.

Kramer thanked the Baker County Sheriff's Office for early adoption in the circuit and said his office expects the system ultimately to save sheriff's office staff time responding to evidence requests. He said the sheriff's office would initially carry some short-term operational impacts but that automated exchange should reduce workload over time.

Kramer offered to return to the commission during the budget process to present detailed cost estimates and answer questions. He also introduced Rebecca Shinholzer as his new executive director.

Why it matters: Prosecutors and law enforcement nationwide are handling exponentially more digital material, and most offices must invest in evidence-management platforms to keep cases moving. Commissioners will see a modest, recurring line item in the county budget to pay Baker County's share of the circuit-wide system.

No formal vote or change was made at the April meeting; Kramer said he would brief commissioners again during the budget cycle.","Newly reelected Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer told the Baker County commission his office is adopting an automated digital evidence management system (Nice Justice) that will modernize prosecution work and will show up as about $12,000 in the county's next budget cycle as the county's percentage share of a shared IT budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Emergency management: Baker County fires program manager, sees some FEMA reimbursements but disputes remain on major projects

Jewish Family & Community Services forms long-term recovery team after hotel sheltering finds dozens of displaced households in Baker County

Votes at a glance: ordinances, subdivision replat, roof bid and county ambulance renewals approved

Baker County state attorney outlines digital evidence system, flags $12,000 county budget request