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Board approves $20,000 disaster‑relief program and up to $4,000 for mud mixer to help farmers after Helene
Summary
County staff and extension officials briefed supervisors on a draft disaster relief program for farmers affected by Hurricane Helene. The board directed staff to implement a program using $20,000 already budgeted and approved up to $4,000 from capital funds to buy a mud mixer for Soil & Water.
Extension office and Soil & Water staff presented a draft Hurricane Helene disaster‑relief program to the board, proposing a combination of small reimbursements to individual farmers and shared capital equipment that could be rented by farmers (for example, a mud mixer and three‑point implements).
Supervisors stressed the need for a clear priority list and a multi‑year replacement plan to allow budgeting. With roughly 500 farmers countywide and $20,000 budgeted for storm relief, staff and board members discussed options including direct small reimbursements versus purchasing shared equipment. The board voted to proceed with the relief program using the $20,000 allocation and approved up to $4,000 from the Northern District capital fund to purchase a mud mixer for Soil & Water to manage on a rental basis.
Supervisors asked for concrete estimates and a plan for administering reimbursements or equipment rentals during the upcoming budget cycle. They also encouraged staff to pursue grant opportunities and integrate the program into FY2026 budget requests.
