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Fort Atkinson council adopts Jefferson County hazard mitigation plan to preserve FEMA grant eligibility
Summary
The council voted to adopt the county'wide 2025 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan, a step the fire chief said is required every five years to keep the city eligible for federal mitigation grant programs; staff said adoption carries no immediate cost though future projects may require matching funds.
The Fort Atkinson City Council on Tuesday adopted the 2025 Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan for the city, a move staff said is required to preserve eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding. Fire Chief Peterson told the council the county formally adopted the plan in April and that each municipality in the county must also adopt it to remain eligible for FEMA programs.
The plan assesses local risks including flooding, severe storms and other weather events and outlines strategies to reduce long-term risks to people, infrastructure and property. "This step is required to maintain our eligibility for federal hazard mitigation grant funding in the future," Chief Peterson said during the public hearing. He added the plan is updated every five years under the federal requirement and that Fort Atkinson contributed its infrastructure inventory to the county-led effort.
Council members who spoke during the meeting praised the plan''s breadth and the county-city collaboration that informed it, with one council member noting lessons learned from the 2008 flood were reflected in the document. City staff said adoption itself imposes no immediate financial obligation on the city but cautioned that future mitigation projects identified in the plan'such as stormwater upgrades, emergency power systems and flood-prevention work'may require local matching funds.
After the public hearing, a council member moved to adopt a resolution formally approving the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan for Fort Atkinson. The motion was seconded and the council voted to approve the resolution. The council packet includes the full plan and a staff memo summarizing the county adoption timeline and local participation.
City staff recommended council adoption to reinforce the city's commitment to community safety and to maintain access to FEMA mitigation grants. The fire chief said the plan helps the city prioritize projects and positions Fort Atkinson to apply for future federal mitigation funding.
The council recorded no additional conditions on the resolution; staff said they would continue implementation planning as opportunities and funding arise.
