LaSalle County emergency management warns federal reimbursements paused; seeks apron fill, interns and regional recovery partners

Fred, the county’s emergency management director, told the LaSalle County Public Safety Committee that federal grant reimbursements routed through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency remain on hold, even though the county must continue filing quarterly reports.

The county should continue submitting required reports so that when funds are released the state can process reimbursements promptly, Fred said. “They are not issuing the reimbursements at this time, but it's anticipated that they will start that up in the near future,” he said.

Fred said the radiological grant — funded by fees that Constellation pays to the State of Illinois — is separate and is not affected by the federal reimbursement pause. He described the federal grants at issue as “federal pass through” grants administered by the state.

Why it matters: the paused reimbursements affect operating budgets for emergency services. Fred told the committee the current withheld grant is “right around” $30,000–$35,000 and that the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) he applies for annually is roughly $33,000 (figures discussed in the meeting were…