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Town manager updates council on FEMA projects, debris removal and state loan program
Summary
Town Manager Shannon Tuck briefed the council on FEMA public assistance inspections, debris removal, private-property debris challenges, and a state loan program to front recovery costs; staff estimated storm-related costs at roughly $5.7 million and said program details remain subject to change.
Town Manager Shannon Tuck told the Woodfin Town Council that FEMA public-assistance site inspections are underway, emergency repairs at Riverside Park and to a cofferdam are in progress, and debris collection is moving from right-of-way work into waterways and private-property projects.
Tuck said the town has begun RFQ interviews for firms to repair stormwater and street systems, that Riverside Park emergency bank repair was about 40% complete, and that the cofferdam repair was about 80% complete. She added that debris chipping and collection continues and that private-property debris removal is a newer FEMA category requiring rights-of-entry from individual property owners.
On financing, Tuck said the State of North Carolina announced a $100 million program to provide 0% bridge loans to help municipalities cover upfront storm-repair costs while awaiting FEMA reimbursement. "Currently our storm related costs are approximately $5,700,000," she told the council, and staff submitted paperwork to be considered for the state loan program; she cautioned that the estimate will change as bids are refined.
Tuck said FEMA representatives are working to expedite reimbursements and that staff are coordinating closely with state and federal project managers. She recommended the council review loan terms carefully because municipalities may still face obligations for unreimbursed costs depending on final program rules.
Tuck also reviewed ongoing town work: code-update RFQs, draft flood-ordinance revisions for April review, streambank restoration completed with NC State and RiverLink partners, drop-inlet cleaning quotes underway, continued work on Riverside Park expansion and Silver Line Park cleanup, and progress on the Geneva Maine community garden water tap (Woodfin Water agreed to provide the tap and water at no charge).
