County staff briefed commissioners on a cluster of emergency-equipment funding opportunities and the board authorized moving forward with paperwork on Nov. 27.

Speaker 7, a newly onboarded county staff member, said the county applied to the Kansas Department of Emergency Management for a $75,000 project intended to replace three existing sirens and add two additional sites, and that a separate local foundation gave the county a $25,000 check as match support. “The grant was for is for $75,000,” Speaker 7 said, and later announced “the Tressler Foundation has awarded us $25,000” and that the county would have a photo/check presentation scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

Separately, Speaker 7 described an Assistance to Firefighters Vehicle Notice of Funding Opportunity (AFG NOFO). The county plans to apply for roughly $400,000 to buy an off-the-lot fire truck (not custom-built). Speaker 7 said because of the county’s size the required match rate is 5% (about $19,000) and asked the board to pledge availability of matching funds so that the application can represent the county’s ability to cover the local share.

Speaker 8 presented paperwork for a FEMA/public-assistance application tied to storm-siren replacement. Speaker 8 summarized the federal/local split as $56,250 from FEMA and $18,750 county responsibility for a total project estimate of $75,000, and asked commissioners to sign an application and a related lobbying-certificate form. Speaker 3 moved to sign the federal- assistance application and Speaker 1 seconded; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Commissioners and staff reviewed a siren coverage map and discussed practical matters: moving an existing siren from Strong City to Elmdale, funding left over to expand coverage, the need to install two-way communications at dispatch, and who will take ongoing maintenance responsibility. Speakers discussed options for town contributions and whether county maintenance or city contributions would best ensure long-term upkeep; all acknowledged that maintenance carries recurring costs and that solar power options could reduce energy bills.

The board also discussed the timing of federal processes and the county’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) review by the state, which staff said is expected to begin Dec. 1. No formal conditions were attached to the authorization to sign; staff will return with completed documents and implementation details.

Next steps: staff will sign and submit the FEMA/public-assistance paperwork (as authorized by the board), complete the lobbying certification as required, and proceed with the AFG vehicle application before the Dec. 20 deadline. The county indicated it would identify the source of the local match and include a pledge of matching funds in applications where needed.