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County discusses dropping FEMA CRS participation; approves longtime volunteer's annuity and grant applications
Summary
Geary County officials said they will withdraw from FEMA's Community Rating System because the small discount no longer justified the administrative burden; the commission approved an annuity for a 45-year volunteer firefighter and heard updates on grant applications for SCBA equipment and a USDA loan for a fire station.
Geary County officials told the commission they plan to discontinue voluntary participation in FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS), and the commission approved a longtime volunteer firefighter's request for an annuity under the firefighter relief association.
Gary Burgess and county staff described the CRS program, which can provide premium discounts to some flood-insurance policyholders when a community meets FEMA criteria. Staff said the county had previously achieved a rating improvement that yielded a modest discount but that increasing administrative requirements have reduced the program's benefit. "We went from a rating of 9 to 8, which basically says that instead of a 10% discount, they did 5%. So Geary and I decided that it's really not worth our time, so we're probably gonna drop out," Burgess said. He told the commission the county will remain compliant with FEMA mapping and insurance eligibility even if it leaves CRS; residents in floodplain areas will still be able to purchase flood insurance.
On personnel and benefits, the commission unanimously approved a recommendation that volunteer firefighter Wayne Adams, who retired after 45 years of service, qualify for an annuity from the Firefighter Relief Association. Staff said Adams met the association's criteria, including service years and participation requirements, and the commission carried the motion.
Fire leadership also reported that the county submitted paperwork for an SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) grant on schedule and is beginning a Department of the Interior grant application for a wildland slip-in unit. County staff said they also submitted a USDA application for a fire-station loan and are resolving additional items required by the agency.
The county also discussed training and coordination with municipal partners and said it plans to continue outreach about volunteer stipends, equipment grants and wildfire readiness. Staff flagged that the CRS decision will be communicated by letter to affected residents and policyholders and that program exit will not change FEMA eligibility for insurance but may eliminate the modest premium discount previously available to a small number of policyholders.
The commission approved the firefighter annuity by voice vote and directed staff to submit the necessary paperwork to the Firefighter Relief Association.
