Baker County emergency-management staff provided a lengthy update on FEMA-funded recovery and mitigation projects, telling commissioners the county is close on several items but cannot begin major construction until FEMA obligates funds and the county establishes a clear reimbursement strategy.

Emergency Management Director (appearing as “Mister Schmidt”) said progress continues on the county boat ramp project but that the county needs final survey/modeling work to demonstrate that moving the ramp will mitigate flood impacts. FEMA agreed to accept the hydrologic and hydraulic modeling proposed in the original contract rather than require an additional contract, which Schmidt said should speed the process; contractors are expected to begin surveying work next week. Schmidt cautioned that FEMA funds are reimbursement-based and urged caution about starting work without obligation; the county will meet this week with a FEMA financial consultant to review fronting options.

Shoals Park is closed while the county completes a scheduled timber-thinning harvest; Schmidt said about half the park’s trail mileage is affected and that contractors expect to finish next week, after which trail repairs and reconciliation with FEMA documentation will follow. The Turner Cemetery Bridge, Steel Bridge Road work and a box culvert project were discussed; some projects are in a request-for-information phase with FEMA and awaiting assigned-engineer sign-offs and contract reconciliation. Several smaller Category B projects (six culverts) are near obligation.

Schmidt also updated commissioners on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) compliance efforts and community-assistance visits: some noncompliance items have been partially closed out pending the county’s planned actions, and the county is coordinating technical help from the University of South Florida to address floodplain administration and code enforcement. He described outreach to families eligible for individual assistance and said county partners are actively trying to contact hundreds of households that did not respond to FEMA or whose applications lacked required documentation.

Commissioners repeatedly stressed they will not begin large construction until the county has firm obligations from FEMA; staff said that obligation is the county’s top priority to avoid fiscal risk.