Valley County approves development of all-hazard mitigation plan, allocates $1,000 for evacuation map

Valley County commissioners on May 5 approved moving forward with an all-hazard mitigation plan and authorized county emergency management to prepare scope-of-work contracts for prosecutor review.

Emergency Manager Jeremy Bonilla told the board the grant-funded scope prepared by a collaborator (Dr. Brandt, referenced by staff) estimated a total cost just over $62,000. Bonilla asked the board’s permission to have the prosecuting attorney review the proposed scope and to proceed with contracting if the board approved. Commissioners approved the motion to move forward and asked staff to do better pre-planning for future solicitations.

The board also approved using $1,000 from emergency-manager contingency funds to develop an evacuation-zone map. A motion to take $1,000 from the emergency services manager budget contingency account passed by voice vote.

One commissioner said the county was on a time crunch and expressed preference to go to open bid when feasible in future cycles; staff explained prior grant timing and state guidance had limited options earlier in the year. Bonilla said the county intends to seek federal funding sources and to coordinate agencies for a collaborative plan.