Osceola County supervisors voted to request a 12-month extension for category D (permanent) repairs on Joint Drainage Districts 1, 2 and 3 after staff said some FEMA applications remain un-obligated and construction deadlines loom.

Staff from the county's engineering team and SEC Engineering told the board they had submitted FEMA applications for multiple damaged drainage sites following the county's declared disaster. The construction cost estimates and total project costs were presented to the board, along with potential FEMA/state funding shares and the estimated unfunded amounts the districts would carry if FEMA obligated the applications at the amounts presented.

Key details: For Joint Drainage District 1, SEC Engineering reported a construction estimate of $117,555 and a total project cost of $140,332; estimated potential FEMA/state assistance was reported at $114,287, leaving an unfunded remainder. District 2 had a construction estimate near $29,495 with a total project cost near $42,819 and an estimated unfunded portion of roughly $7,676. District 3's construction estimate was about $74,160, total project cost $90,468, with an estimated unfunded portion around $16,722. Staff noted FEMA typically reimburses 75 percent federal and 10 percent state on eligible permanent work, with a capped grant-administration reimbursement.

Why the extension: Staff told the board some applications filed in April and May remained in FEMA review with no obligation date; the construction completion deadline for the category D work was December 31. Board members and staff said the uncertainty on FEMA's obligation timing made beginning large permanent projects this fall unlikely and that a 12-month extension would allow time for hearings, bidding and construction once funding was formally obligated.

Board action and votes: The board moved and approved a motion requesting a 12-month extension for drainage districts 1, 2 and 3. The request passed and was further voted on in a joint session: Dickinson County supervisors recorded aye votes (Mister Guller; Mister Clark; others), and Osceola County supervisors recorded aye votes (Mister Scholte; Mister Loring; Mister Helmers; Mister DeBoer; chair vote recorded as aye). Staff will submit the extension request to state/FEMA and coordinate next steps for hearings and bidding.

Implementation note: Staff advised districts that the funded portion of repairs would be paid directly to the construction contract once FEMA obligates funds, and that the districts would be responsible only for the reported unfunded amounts. Staff also warned that if work proceeds before obligation there is a reimbursement risk, but that in past incidents FEMA has accepted contractor invoices when projects were initiated; the board weighed risk in light of the upcoming December deadline.