Sheriff contract renewed; EMA seeks disaster declarations and accepts small Duke grant for heat relief

The Decatur County commissioners on July 6 voted to renew the sheriff’s contract with Southern Health Partners for jail medical services and approved EMA requests tied to recent storm damage.

Sheriff Eric told the board Southern Health Partners has been "good partners in the jail" and that the proposed contract — which would begin Oct. 1 — had been reviewed by staff. Commissioners voted to accept the contract and advance it for budget planning.

EMA director Mike Snyder asked the board to accept a $1,000 Duke grant to partner with the health department to distribute heat‑relief items to residents; no county funds were required and the board approved pursuing the grant. Snyder said the grant was an immediate way to address recent high‑heat needs in the community.

Snyder also reviewed storm declarations: the governor had approved storm disaster declarations back to June 9 for several counties, and Snyder said the county needs to extend and renew local declarations so it can pursue FEMA reimbursement for damaged roads and other storm response costs. He told the board that, depending on FEMA standards, typical reimbursement rates could be about 75% and that Highway had submitted preliminary road damage figures. The commissioners approved the disaster declarations and asked staff to proceed with submittals for potential federal assistance.

The actions authorized the sheriff’s office to continue its medical contract through the new term, allowed EMA to accept the small Duke grant and instructed staff to continue the reimbursement process for storm damage per the governor’s declaration.