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Coryell County staff to file split grant applications, pursue FEMA reimbursements and HUD funds
Summary
County staff reported steps to pursue FEMA Hazard Mitigation reimbursements tied to event “47 81,” break a large USDOT application into planning and construction pieces, and monitor a state CDBG action plan that could offer $500,000-per-project awards.
County officials said Tuesday they will file two separate U.S. Department of Transportation grant applications — one for planning/audit activities and a separate one for construction — and continue efforts to recoup FEMA Hazard Mitigation reimbursements related to event “47 81.”
The county judge opened the grants update, and a consultant identified as Manning said the department of transportation advised breaking a large application into smaller buckets so planning work competes in a less-competitive “planning” category. “We’re gonna incorporate that into the project application,” Manning said.
Why it matters: separating planning from construction could improve the county’s chances of winning funding for pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, pavement markings and related audits with no additional county match required, staff said. County staff also said they are in a reimbursement phase on a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and expect some FEMA recoupments for categories including vegetation clearance (category A) and emergency repairs (category B), while category C claims (completed and ongoing roadway, culvert and low-water-crossing work) are still being documented.
County staff told the court they have contracted engineers to prepare documentation for individual mitigation projects so those items can be submitted for review and approval. The county’s Road & Bridge supervisor, Justin Latham, described a system the department is using to break out work by road and by FEMA category to avoid duplicate tracking.
On Community Development Block Grant and HUD funds, staff said the state recently released about a half-billion dollars to the state action plan; according to the report the county would be eligible to apply for up to two projects capped at $500,000 per project and that the state public comment period for the action plan ends June 16. Staff said a state NOFO would follow after the plan is finalized.
Staff-level directions and next steps included: file two separate USDOT applications (planning/audit and construction) within the three-week window; re-engage FEMA and MRB on grant management and monthly reporting; and prepare comments for the GLO state action plan before the June 16 deadline.
No vote was required; the court received the update and offered no objection to staff proceeding.
