Selectboard hears update on FEMA reimbursements and bridge funding

A town official leading emergency-management and finance updates told the Kirby Selectboard that FEMA and Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) reimbursements tied to the July 2024 storm remain partly unpaid but are expected to arrive soon and will affect upcoming bridge and road projects. “We should see that 77,000 here in within the month,” the official said, referring to outstanding reimbursement funds that include a $64,005.64 DPS reimbursement from July 2024.

The official also said FEMA indicated it could prepay roughly $250,000 for bridge work by early spring, which changes the town's near-term cash flow. The board discussed a rough capital picture of about $2.8 million in repair and reimbursement funds that should flow to the town, offset by liabilities including a Vermont Bond Bank loan (discussed in the meeting as about $670,000) and remaining repair estimates. Depending on whether the bond bank loan is drawn, the net funding gap could vary; the official cautioned that final construction estimates will not be known until engineers complete plans and the town receives firm bids, with a target for clearer numbers by next September.

Board members asked about permitting and engineering approvals. The official said large bridge projects require plan submittals in advance and stream-engineer approval before work begins; the board agreed to ensure those plans are in the state's and FEMA's review pipeline once available. The board did not take a funding vote at the meeting; the next procedural step is receipt of final engineering plans and a budget-ready construction estimate.