Butler County commissioners on Tuesday approved a standalone 2025 disaster recovery plan and unanimously approved two disaster-relief tax abatement applications tied to a June flood and a July fire.

The move, made during the county commission meeting at the Butler County Courthouse in El Dorado, also included distribution of a final after-action report on the June flood and an update that FEMA has approved a public assistance declaration for government damages from the June 3 flooding.

The county appraiser
nd county staff presented the two disaster-relief applications and said they met the statutory requirements. Leanne Korkendahl, Butler County appraiser, said the properties
t 920 North Gordy in El Dorado (flood, June 3, 2025) and 421 Williamsburg Court in Andover (fire, July 4, 2025) together qualify for an estimated $5,396 in tax abatement. Commissioner Herzet moved to approve both applications; Commissioner Masterson seconded and the motion passed unanimously, 5-0.

Separately, county staff presented the '025 Butler County Disaster Recovery Plan, which county staff wrote instead of using the state template. The presenter said the standalone recovery plan expands the recovery annex from a few pages to a comprehensive, roughly 50-page document focused on long-term recovery functions (infrastructure restoration, economic recovery, social services and coordination with recovery support organizations). Commissioner Wazak moved to adopt the plan and authorize the chair to sign associated documents; Commissioner Murphy seconded and the motion passed 5-0.

Staff also handed out the final after-action report for the June flooding and said FEMA
warded a public assistance declaration that covers government damages incurred between June 3 and June 7, enabling county public works, the City of El Dorado and townships to pursue FEMA public assistance for eligible repairs. The county noted the Small Business Administration made loans available for homeowners and business owners but said the FEMA declaration covered government-side public assistance only.

Discussion/Direction: County staff indicated they will continue working with state and federal partners to implement the recovery plan, distribute the after-action report to stakeholders and coordinate FEMA-funded repairs. Staff also said about 15
6 public entities had submitted requests for FEMA public assistance.

Action: Adoption of the 2025 Butler County Disaster Recovery Plan (motion by Commissioner Wazak; second by Commissioner Murphy) — outcome: approved, 5-0. Approval of two disaster-relief tax abatement applications (motion by Commissioner Herzet; second by Commissioner Masterson) — outcome: approved, 5-0.

The county said the standalone recovery plan does not require state approval; the county will later bring an updated emergency operations plan (EOP) to the state for review because the EOP itself must be state-approved. The county emphasized the new plan uses recovery support function groupings to align responsibilities across departments and partners.

Staff distributed printed copies of the final after-action report and asked commissioners to review the lessons learned and ongoing recovery activities.