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County considers converting uncloseable FEMA flood projects into equipment purchases
Summary
Staff presented an option to convert obligated FEMA funds from flood-recovery projects the county could not restore into alternate projects—mainly equipment purchases—stressing items must be insured to obligated amounts and that procurement rules and cooperative purchasing affect timing and cost.
County staff briefed commissioners on FEMA closeouts for several 2022 flood-recovery projects that could not be restored to pre-disaster condition and therefore might be moved into FEMA-approved alternate projects for flood preparedness or response.
Staff (Speaker 3) said buying insured equipment is the easiest route for an alternate project because equipment can be insured for the obligated amount; by contrast, using funds to insulate a building would require costly flood insurance and liability coverage. Projects mentioned for potential conversion to alternate projects included the Nineteenth Street Bridge, Framberg Bridge, Riverview and Edgar Lagos.
The presenters said the county can draw down the full federal share (75%) on several completed projects that came in under obligation, freeing federal dollars to help cover overruns on other work. Commissioners discussed procurement strategy, including cooperative purchasing agreements that can allow the county to buy new machines without a separate bid process, versus buying used equipment and following formal solicitation rules.
Staff emphasized they are not asking for a final decision but requested direction on what types of equipment the commissioners would authorize as alternate projects; they will return with detailed dollar amounts and procurement recommendations.
