Emergency Management seeks FEMA grant scope change to support possible College Place public safety facility

Emergency Management Director Chris Lee asked the Walla Walla County commissioners on June 2 for permission to adjust the scope of two federal grants awarded in 2022 and 2023 so FEMA will extend the grants and put the commitment to writing. FEMA has given a verbal willingness to extend at least one additional year if the county provides a revised plan and scope.

Lee said the earlier plan to remodel space at the port proved costly and unlikely to meet requirements. County staff have explored options with the City of College Place, including adding space on or near a proposed new police facility. "We are at the exploration point of the two grants that we've had for many, many years... FEMA is willing to extend it. We just need to be able to change some of the verbiage on the scope of it, to change the one to a design planning piece," Lee told the board.

Commissioners pressed for clarity about contingencies: the plan depends on College Place moving forward with a bond measure and a police facility that could host regional services. Commissioner Bertha Clayton and others noted the bond previously failed and that the port-owned building would need extensive work and effectively be a rebuild. Lee and staff said the county would continue conversations with College Place, the state and FEMA; the county would not let the earmarked congressional funds lapse without exploring alternatives.

Commissioners expressed conditional support for revising grant language so FEMA can formalize extensions, while emphasizing the uncertainty tied to College Place bond approval and timelines. Lee said the grants are congressionally directed funding and the county wants to ensure the money is used rather than returned to Washington, D.C.