Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grant Funding Reimbursements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Valley County approves reimbursement correction as staff warns federal/state grants paused pending NRCS MOU
Summary
The Valley County body approved a correction to a reimbursement request and discussed a temporary halt to several federally funded grant implementations while a federal-state memorandum of understanding remains unsigned and allocations are negotiated with NRCS.
Valley County officials on Feb. 18 approved a correction to a reimbursement request and heard staff describe an uncertain funding picture that has paused implementation of several federally funded grants.
The board approved a correction reducing a previously submitted reimbursement for $39,561 — a $6,642.73 reduction from the first reimbursement — and directed staff to continue filing required paperwork while payments remain uncertain. "So I have a correction for the jug reimbursement, for $39,561. That's a reduction of $6,642.73, from the first reimbursement," said Mara, a county staff member. A motion to approve the correction was moved and seconded and the chair called the vote: "All in favor? Aye. Aye." The motion passed.
Staff told the board that several implementation activities tied to federally funded grants have been put on hold after the federal funds were shifted to the state and the state asked recipients to pause implementation. Mara said some deliverables already completed cannot be paid from the grant and will instead be covered by "title 3." She added that reimbursements already submitted may take longer to be paid.
The county also discussed negotiations tied to a larger allocation from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). "There is still an actual no negotiation with NRCS to see how to allocate the $220,000,000," Mara said, noting the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NRCS has not been signed and it remains unknown how much will ultimately be awarded.
A county staff member who addressed the chair and commissioners reported some stability in other funding lines: "G and A is still fully funded," the staff member said, indicating the county's general and administrative funding agreement remained in place.
Board members and staff discussed how the pause could affect contractors and implementation schedules. Mara said many projects in the county typically begin in April or May and that the county had instructed contractors to wait. She also said one unit that had been awarded work — Unit 3 off Elo Road in East McCall — has not started; the county has a pending $30,000 item it plans to submit for reimbursement but had not yet filed it. Mara said contractors might be affected if delays continue: "If it's not cleared up by then, I mean, we'll have quite a few contractors affected."
The board was told that four service contracts had been halted and that some contractors who rely on Firewise or similar grants could see private-work reductions as grant-funded work is paused. Staff said they expect follow-up conversations in Washington, D.C., with the Forest Service and congressional offices that may clarify the status of federated funding and the timing of resumed implementation.
No formal vote was taken on resuming or canceling projects; the only formal action recorded during the discussion was approval of the reimbursement correction. Staff committed to continuing to submit reimbursements where appropriate and to update the board as federal and state negotiations proceed.
The board also briefly confirmed routine agenda and minutes items at the meeting start before taking up the reimbursement correction and funding update.
