Dunn County committee postpones decision on hazard mitigation plan amid federal funding uncertainty

The Dunn County Judicial and Law Committee voted to postpone a decision on whether to prepare a new hazard mitigation plan or delay work, leaving the county’s next step open until a future meeting.

The committee’s postponement came after emergency management staff outlined four options — including a scaled-down plan estimated at about $16,000 and a broader plan that would include neighboring municipalities and maintain grant eligibility — and warned that federal funding through FEMA is uncertain. Supervisor Walsh made the motion to postpone; the motion was seconded by Supervisor Gilbert and passed on a voice vote.

Emergency management staff said the county’s current five-year mitigation plan expires in October and described a November window when federal or state mitigation grant solicitations often appear. “I think the only caveat is is that November is generally the time frame when these … grants come out,” the staff member said during the discussion, adding that if the county does not have a plan in place when funding is announced it may be ineligible to apply.

Staff described four options: contract with an outside firm for a full plan, a pared-down plan that includes limited community participation, a pared-down plan prepared by the county, or doing nothing now. The pared-down contractor option was the $16,000 figure staff referenced; the consultant named in the packet was Chris Strait. Staff warned that even a county-prepared plan that follows FEMA requirements would require reprioritizing other work.

Committee members discussed past grant outcomes: staff said a recent application for roughly $300,000 was withdrawn at the federal level and that in the past 10 years Dunn County had one funded mitigation project (erosion control on the Chippewa Riverbank), but no approved mitigation grants in the most recent five-year cycle. “If we do not do it and they come out with one in November, we would not be eligible for it,” the staff member said, noting both the risk of spending local dollars now and the risk of missing future funding.

Members also identified local mitigation priorities that could fit grant criteria if funding becomes available, including storm shelters or “safe places” for recreational and mobile home areas (the Irvington Campground and the Birch Terrace Trailer Court were mentioned as locations without nearby safe shelters) and bank erosion projects. Staff said some mitigation projects must involve townships or neighboring municipalities and that coordinated applications can be harder to assemble when local partners decline to participate.

After discussion, Supervisor Walsh moved to postpone choosing an option; the motion was seconded by Supervisor Gilbert and, after floor discussion, carried on a voice vote. The committee agreed that staff could bring the item back if new information or a compelling funding opportunity emerged.

Committee members also noted the county will continue to monitor federal and state guidance: staff described that FEMA’s role and funding amounts are in flux and that Wisconsin Emergency Management could become the conduit for any federal mitigation funds. Staff said a pared-down county-prepared plan would likely meet FEMA-format requirements but would increase county staff workload.

The postponement leaves open whether the county will proceed with a consultant-prepared plan, a county-prepared plan, or continue to delay until funding opportunities and federal requirements are clearer.