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Commissioners approve contract amendment and budget change for storm debris cleanup; residents complain about smoke from burn sites
Summary
The board approved a contract amendment with Southern Disaster Recovery and a related budget amendment that raises the county’s estimated cost for debris removal; residents described ash/smoke impacts from burn sites and asked for monitoring and alternatives such as increased mulching.
Rutherford County commissioners approved a contract amendment and budget amendment on Feb. 3 to keep storm-related debris crews working under revised pricing and to appropriate funds for additional debris removal and waterway work after hurricane Helene.
Paula (county finance/staff) told commissioners the North Carolina Emergency Management contract amendment revised pricing to stay competitive in a regional debris market; the county’s projected debris-removal cost has risen from earlier estimates around $15 million to about $20 million under the revised price schedule. As of Feb. 1 staff said Southern Disaster Relief (SDR) had removed about 550,000 cubic yards of debris and that the county projects 650,000–675,000 cubic yards total; the final 100,000–125,000 cubic yards are expected to be subject to the higher pricing.
Because most debris-removal costs are expected to be FEMA-reimbursable, staff recommended proceeding to keep crews working and finishing the cleanup within available reimbursement processes. The board approved the budget amendment and contract amendment and directed staff to continue pursuing FEMA/North Carolina Emergency Management approvals for waterway and culvert sites on the Broad River; staff said the budget appropriation is contingent on FEMA approval of the identified sites.
Several members of the public raised health concerns during public comment alleging excessive smoke and ash from SDR burn sites. David Mullins and several other residents described recurring ashfall that has coated cars and property, caused respiratory symptoms and required medical attention for at least one resident. Commissioners and staff said SDR personnel are monitoring the sites and that the county is working to increase chipping and mulch options where possible. Staff said two problematic sites are being chipped rather than burned and that mulch has been made available to the public at the landfill.
A commissioner asked whether SDR could address specific complaints and asked staff to confirm monitoring and mitigation steps; staff agreed to ask SDR to respond to resident complaints and to provide more on-site monitoring. Commissioners approved the contract amendment for SDR and the budget amendments that appropriate funds to the debris-removal effort.
