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Lee County updates FEMA assessments, approves texting service and supplemental appropriation
Summary
At its Oct. 15 meeting the Lee County Board heard FEMA assessment results following storm damage, approved joining the sheriff's texting/alert service for county departments, and approved a $16,677.82 supplemental appropriation to account for state-provided funds.
Lee County officials told the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 15 that FEMA conducted damage assessments following recent storm impacts (referred to in the meeting as Helene) and that the county has been approved for many forms of assistance, though individual assistance (I) had not yet been authorized. County staff encouraged residents to self-report damage and to seek help from the administrator’s office for filing forms.
The county administrator reported coordination challenges but said FEMA assessments were completed and that state forms and paperwork are being processed; staff noted some delays caused by data-entry and asked supervisors to contact state liaisons if they observe gaps in county submissions.
The board also considered a proposal to use a texting/alert platform the sheriff’s office already operates. The county administrator presented vendor quotes (some in the several-thousand-dollar range) and a local vendor option quoted around $500. Board members approved a motion to adopt the texting service, with administrative controls assigned to the administrator’s office and departmental logins to be managed by staff so messages would be vetted before release.
Separately, the board approved a supplemental appropriation of $16,677.82 to move state-provided funds into the county budget. The board received an informational update on the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority billing and the county’s budgeted share; staff noted a gross bill and a state-responsible deduction in the calculation of the county’s payment.
What’s next: Staff will continue to help residents file FEMA self-reports and will implement the texting system with administrative oversight. The supplemental appropriation will be recorded in the county budget and the jail payment will be processed through normal check runs.
