County officials say $30 million is needed for flood recovery; urge continued state engagement
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Summary
County representatives reported meetings with state budget and commerce officials to press a $30 million request for flood recovery, urged continuation of George Ford/George Edwards funding, and flagged a $600,000–$1,000,000 need to demolish a mill smokestack.
Unidentified Speaker (S5), a county official who led recent state outreach, told commissioners the county met with state budget and commerce leadership to press for flood recovery funding and other project support. "We got to meet with him, actually, the last ones to meet with him and got to discuss with him the whole budgetary stuff with the flood and the $30,000,000 that's needed," S5 said.
S5 said the county also raised the need to continue what staff called "George Ford" and "George Edwards" funding streams and requested between $600,000 and $1,000,000 to tear down a smokestack at a mill. "We did bring up the need for the George Ford funding the George Edwards funding to continue and brought up the need for 600 to $1,000,000 for tearing down the smoke stack at the mill," S5 said.
S5 reported the state's budget secretary (referred to in the meeting as Secretary Wiseman) was "very open" to discussing the county's needs but indicated the state was still determining available funding sources; staff were advised to stay in touch with the governor's office about possible support. "He was very open to it... They're still trying to figure out where that money would come from," S5 said.
No committed state funding was announced at the work session. Commissioners emphasized the need to have projects in the queue so the county can demonstrate funds were spent if state or federal money becomes available. County staff said they will continue outreach with the governor's office and state secretaries and prepare project materials for potential funding rounds.