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Woodford County accepts $2.76 million state grant to cut local cost of flood buyouts
Summary
The fiscal court approved a $2,761,744 grant from the Cabinet for Economic Development to lower the county's match on an approximately $12 million EWP buyout program following recent floods. Officials said the award reduces the county's net obligation to about 5 cents on the dollar and that the grant is reimbursement-based.
Woodford County Fiscal Court voted to accept a $2,761,744 state grant intended to lower the county's local match on a roughly $12 million Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) buyout program for flood-impacted properties.
"This award is $2,761,744," Director Drew Chandler told the court, describing the state program (Government Resources Accelerating Need Transformation Program) as designed to offset local match requirements for certain federally funded projects. He said the federal USDA program covers much of the buyouts and that the state award significantly reduces the county's net cost.
When asked about the county's remaining share, staff explained the grant reduces the local obligation to approximately 5 percent of the total project cost after accounting for USDA management fees and reimbursements.
Chandler said appraisals, title opinions and environmental assessments were already in process and that those costs are reimbursable under the USDA project. The court approved the grant agreement as recommended by the budget and finance committee.
The court also approved a letter of engagement with Thunderbird Environmental for environmental database review services at $680 per report as part of the required environmental work; officials noted those costs are reimbursable by USDA once expended.
The county indicated next steps include completing appraisals and environmental reports, submitting reimbursement requests, and moving toward property acquisitions for willing sellers under the EWP program.
