County staff reported progress on the Community Services and Emergency Program (CSEP) closeout and asked the Fiscal Court to authorize appraisals for several real-property and tower sites tied to the program.

Harry Wilson, reporting on the county’s emergency programs, said FEMA, Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) and FEMA Region 4 told county officials Clark County had supplied required documentation “with one exception” — appraisals for two tower sites and the emergency operations center (EOC) premises. Wilson said an appraisal quote he received was $1,500 to appraise the two towers and $2,900 for the EOC property; the county was later asked to add the road department pole barn to the appraisal list.

Wilson asked the court for permission to proceed with a local appraisal firm without multiple quotes because the work is fully reimbursable under closeout rules. He told the court the county has written confirmation that the appraisals are reimbursable through KYEM and FEMA closeout funds.

The court also debated and ultimately approved making the emergency management director (EM director) position the county’s designated full-time EM role and to keep the incumbent’s salary at her current level so a larger portion of the pay could be classified as emergency-management salary eligible for reimbursement. The decision was contentious: some magistrates said they prefer an EM director with first-responder experience and others raised procedural questions about prior appointments. During debate, county officials noted KRS requirements that the judge executive appoint an EM director and discussed the need to align the appointment with reimbursement rules to ensure federal/state EMG reimbursements.

Wilson and other staff stressed EOC maintenance, tower and microwave communications upgrades, and ongoing equipment upkeep will require continuing attention and budgetary support even after closeout. Wilson also invited magistrates to tour the EOC to review systems and facilities in person.

The court authorized moving forward with appraisals and directed staff to ensure the EM director role and salary classification are structured to permit available reimbursements at closeout.