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Commission discusses $3.6M outstanding debris reimbursement and votes to seek governor waiver
Summary
County staff said the Hurricane Helene debris project totaled just over $6 million; the state returned $2.5 million and about $3.6 million remains pending with FEMA. A later application costing $682,000 lacks a normal waiver and could require the county to pay roughly $100,000; the board authorized memorializing a request to the governor's office for a waiver.
County staff told the Jefferson County Commission on Nov. 6 that debris removal from Hurricane Helene generated a project cost of just over $6 million and that reimbursement remains outstanding.
"We received 2,500,000.0 back right away, from the state, and the remainder that's left from the debris pickup is still 3,600,000.0," a staff member said in the briefing. Staff explained that debris monitoring and documentation have progressed, but the outstanding amount is currently in FEMA's hands and recent federal‑level delays (including a federal shutdown) slowed action.
Staff also summarized a separate post‑January work application that cost $682,000 and does not have the normal waiver; under the standard split the federal government would cover 75%, the state 12.5% and Jefferson County 12.5%, which staff estimated could leave the county with an approximate $100,000 share. Staff said they would submit a waiver request to the governor's office and asked the commission whether to seek the full amount or present a partial request to show "skin in the game." One commissioner described the uncertainty as "a really dark cloud hanging over the commission."
A motion from Commissioner Grambling, seconded by Commissioner Searls, to memorialize requesting the waiver was made and the board voted in favor.
Next steps: staff will proceed with waiver paperwork to the governor's office; commissioners signaled support for pursuing relief and asked staff to continue efforts to recoup reimbursements.
Reporting note: numeric reimbursement amounts were taken from staff remarks in the reimbursement update.
