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Supervisors discuss U.S. Army Corps beach-and-dune partnership; estimated local share near $10 million
Summary
Hancock County supervisors discussed a potential partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a beach-and-dune project and reviewed preliminary cost estimates that would require a substantial nonfederal share; the board deferred final commitment and said it would return with more detail at an upcoming meeting.
County staff and board members discussed a proposed beach-and-dune project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and reviewed preliminary cost-share estimates presented at the Feb. 18 meeting.
Meeting comments referenced a government (federal) share and a nonfederal (local) share. A staff estimate discussed in the meeting put construction costs (excluding monitoring and adaptive management) at roughly $28 million, with a government share of about $18.4 million and a nonfederal (local) share of about $9.9 million. Board members and staff characterized the local share as approaching $10 million and said that once the county was committed it would be difficult to withdraw.
County staff told the board the timeline for needing local funds and completing necessary bond or financing steps likely would fall within the next few months and that the board would revisit the item at its next regular meeting. No final binding appropriation or bonding vote was taken at the Feb. 18 meeting; staff said a signing ceremony could be scheduled if the board elected to commit and that a future meeting would include more detailed financing information.
Why it matters: the discussed nonfederal share is material to county finances and would require the board to consider bonding or other financing methods. Board members noted that delaying the project could increase costs and that storm seasons or additional storm damage could affect cost or timing.
Next steps: staff will return with financing options and a more specific schedule; the board indicated it would take the item up again at the first meeting in March.
