Commission weighs federal disaster grant as it moves ahead with Croydon area fire station bid

Morgan County commissioners reviewed amended bids for a new Croydon-area fire station and discussed pursuing a potential federal disaster supplemental grant that could cover up to 80% of eligible costs.

The session began with county staff reporting an email from Marsha White of the Office of Economic Opportunity describing the Economic Development Administration’s disaster supplemental grant program. Staff said the program is open to communities that experienced a qualifying disaster in recent years and that Morgan County — which declared flooding damage in 2023 — appears to meet that eligibility standard. The grant program was described as large but likely to carry standard federal contracting and reporting requirements; commissioners asked staff to check timelines, match rules (staff reported a preliminary match of 20%), and whether grants reimburse work after the fact or provide up-front funding.

Why it matters: Commissioners identified two drivers for urgent review. First, several county residents recently received notices of homeowners insurance cancellations, increasing pressure to improve local emergency response capacity. Second, an 80% funding option would substantially reduce county capital outlay for a new station and could allow the county to accelerate multiple facility and preparedness projects.

What commissioners did: During the regular meeting the commission moved forward on the procurement process for the Clayton/Croydon station, awarding…