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Choctaw County approves $15,000 contract to update hazard mitigation plan as federal grants pause
Summary
Commissioners voted to contract with ATRC to complete a multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan after FEMA's BRIC program was described as paused; county staff said missing the October expiry would put federal post-disaster aid at risk.
Choctaw County commissioners on a voice vote authorized staff to enter a contract with ATRC to complete a multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan after county emergency management staff said federal grant support is currently paused.
Emergency management staff told the commission that the FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant program has been paused and that the county's current mitigation plan expires in October. That staff member said the county faces a roughly $15,000 cost to complete the plan and estimated the work must be submitted to state emergency management by August for federal consideration before October.
County staff said the lapse of an up-to-date plan could make the county ineligible for federal funding after a disaster. The county chair and commissioners moved and seconded a motion to contract with ATRC for the $15,000 work; the motion carried on a voice vote. Commissioners discussed paying the $15,000 from the county budget; staff said they would confirm with the county administrator (Jessica) whether the line is available.
Commissioners and staff also discussed options to join a regional or district hazard mitigation plan in the future to reduce cost, and staff said joining a district plan after the county's plan is up to date would lower future costs because the state would pick up more of the work.
The commission directed staff to proceed with the ATRC contract and to return if any budget changes are needed.
