The Saline County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7 voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 25-2420, formally declaring a local state of disaster in response to a record winter storm that produced more than 13 inches of snow in parts of the county.

Michelle Weiss, director of emergency management, told commissioners the county experienced its single largest 24-hour snowfall on record and that the state had already issued a disaster declaration on Jan. 4. Weiss said the county declaration will allow Saline County to seek additional state and federal resources and to request reimbursement for staff time, equipment use and repairs incurred during the storm. "I am here to ask that you formally declare a local state of disaster for the county," Weiss said. "So far, we have 13 plus inches of snow throughout the county." She added that a state declaration made additional resources available during the storm and that county staff were compiling damage and cost figures to submit for state and federal assistance.

Commissioners discussed the operational impacts Weiss and department staff described, including a period when Interstate 70 was closed during the event and the need to reimburse time and equipment used by county crews. Weiss said state and federal reimbursement would cover eligible costs for clearing roads, equipment repairs and personnel overtime.

Action: A motion to adopt Resolution 25-2420 carried 4-0. The motion text as presented to the board was to adopt Resolution 25-2420 declaring a local state of disaster emergency for Saline County; the meeting record does not name the motion mover or seconder. The board recorded four "aye" votes and no opposing votes.

Votes at a glance
• Resolution 25-2420, local state of disaster emergency — adopted, 4-0.
• Consent agenda (approval of tax roll adjustments, accounts payable and minutes) — adopted, 4-0.
• Domestic Violence Association proclamations (see separate items) — adopted, 4-0 each.

Why it matters: The county declaration makes county costs and damage estimates eligible for reimbursement under state and federal disaster assistance programs and permits coordination with state resources that responded to road and public-safety needs during the storm.

What happens next: Emergency management staff will finalize cost and damage tallies and submit documentation to state and federal agencies to pursue reimbursement for labor, equipment and repairs. The board did not specify a timetable for submission in the meeting record.

Meeting context: The declaration was taken during Action Item 1 on the Jan. 7 agenda, after the consent agenda and public forum. No public commenters spoke on the item during the meeting.