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Simpson County pursues $600,000 Safe Room HMGP grant, designates emergency-management director as applicant agent
Summary
The Fiscal Court authorized a commitment of the required 13% match ($78,000) and approved an executive order clarifying emergency affiliation and chain of command; Emergency Management Director Robert Palmer was designated as the agent for state and federal disaster assistance.
Emergency Management Director Robert Palmer reported to the Simpson County Fiscal Court on Aug. 16 that Kentucky Emergency Management has invited the county to proceed with an application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Safe Room to be located at the community park.
The grant would provide $600,000 for construction of a storm‑rated safe room; the county must provide a 13% match totaling $78,000 in cash or in‑kind work. The court authorized County Judge Executive Mason Barnes to sign a letter committing Simpson County to provide the required match. The motion to authorize the commitment passed unanimously.
The court also approved Executive Order No. 2022-08-16, which establishes responsibilities and the chain of command among Simpson County Fiscal Court, the Simpson County Office of Emergency Management and Simpson County Fire Rescue in the event of an emergency. In the same set of actions, the court approved Resolution No. 2022-08-16 designating Director Robert Palmer as the applicant's agent authorized to act on behalf of Simpson County for state and federal disaster assistance; the resolution authorizes signatures of all Fiscal Court members.
Fire Rescue Chief Leslie Goodrum asked the court to cover a $1,000 deductible for each of the Woodburn and Auburn rural fire departments after those agencies provided mutual aid during the Shyne CBD Labs fire and sustained equipment damage; the court reached consensus to cover those deductibles. Magistrate Myron Thurman also asked the judge to contact Spectrum about property conditions and safety during installations near roadways; the court recorded that residents generally welcome the service but have concerns about installation practices.
These steps position the county to seek hazard‑mitigation funding while clarifying emergency roles and providing immediate support to neighboring volunteer fire agencies that aided the county during a local laboratory fire.
