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Montreat receives $85,593.13 in FEMA reimbursements; council approves cash‑flow budget amendment for hurricane recovery
Summary
Town staff told the council the town received two FEMA reimbursements totaling $85,593.13 for repairs to Welch Field and the town wells, and the council approved a $65,471.62 budget amendment to support Hurricane Helene recovery cash flow while reimbursements continue to be processed.
Savannah, a town staff member, told the Montreat Town Council that the town received two FEMA reimbursement checks "on Monday, totaling $85,593.13," money earmarked for repairs to Welch Field and the town's wells.
The payment items are still in FEMA's initial project development phase and will move to the CRC (FEMA's review queue) before funds are obligated, Savannah said. "They will move to the CRC," she said, adding that the process requires site inspections and documentation. She warned the council the annual audit is "a little more" intensive this year "because of the bridge loans that we received," and that staff is providing extra documentation to meet the Local Government Commission's extended deadline of Dec. 31.
To maintain cash flow for ongoing recovery work while waiting for additional reimbursements, the council approved Budget Amendment No. 3, which appropriates $65,471.62 from the state's disaster cash‑flow loan program into Fund 29 (Hurricane Helene recovery). The amendment passed by voice vote with all present councilors saying "aye." Savannah said the appropriation is intended strictly to manage cash flow pending FEMA and other reimbursements.
Council members asked clarifying questions about which projects were included; staff confirmed pedestrian bridge projects (Arbor Lane and Texas Road) are in the queue and that reimbursement for known slope repairs (the Graveyard slides) remains uncertain until CRC completes its review. Savannah said the pedestrian bridges are likely to move through CRC review "either tomorrow or Monday," but noted that reimbursement amounts for slide repairs will be known only after that review.
The council took no additional direction beyond approving the amendment and receiving the report; staff will continue to track CRC progress and report at future meetings.
