Avery County reports $23 million debris reimbursement, multiple recovery grants and project ordinances after Hurricane Helen

County Manager reported updates on several recovery and grant efforts related to Hurricane Helen and other county initiatives during the June 1 meeting.

Manager said the county received roughly $23 million (a 75% reimbursement) of a $32 million debris-removal project so far. He also reported receipt of a $150,000 shelter-trailer grant (trailers received and staff trained) and preliminary approval for a $200,000 community paramedicine grant.

Staff described other active efforts: two cybersecurity grants have been awarded and procurement will begin for IT equipment; the senior-center grant recently received required approvals from the state historic preservation office and the tribal historic preservation office; the county applied for an emergency-management grant to install informational signs (two signs equipped with AM radio and six other informational signs); and staff resubmitted scope-of-work materials for a DEQ grant that would fund a grinder and related site improvements.

Finance Officer Caleb presented a package of budget amendments and project ordinances to implement grant awards and recovery work. The board adopted resolutions establishing project ordinances for several repairs tied to Hurricane Helen, with the meeting record naming several state-funded line items (examples read into the record include $7,857.94 for Schultz Circle Park repairs and $21,896.25 for baseball-field repairs; the record also cited a larger Green Valley Community Center award read aloud in the meeting materials and shown in the project ordinance packet). The board approved these project ordinances by motion so staff can track the funds separately as required by grant terms.

Caleb also presented an amendment to the debris-removal project ordinance to reflect actual contract and monitoring numbers and noted the county will continue to process reimbursements and contract invoices with state and federal agencies, including FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps where applicable. Manager and staff emphasized that project ordinances hold grant funds and related interest in separate accounts until projects are complete or additional funds are appropriated.

Separately, board approved a one-year extension for an Elk Park Fire Department state grant and asked staff to finalize scope and contracting steps for FEMA-funded relocations and repairs to the administrative building and senior center.

The county asked board members to approve an auditor contract contingent on confirmation that the fire commission is included in the contract scope; the board voted to approve the contract with that contingency.

The county will hold a special meeting later in June to consider authorizing resolutions and memoranda tied to some of these actions.