Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disaster Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County to apply for state emergency funds to repair Port Authority flood damage; damages estimated about $432,000
Summary
Commissioners voted to sponsor an application for state Disaster & Emergency Services funding to repair flood damage at Port Authority property, including a damaged water diversion channel; state official said $432,000 in damages were estimated and the county must act as applicant for state funding.
Lincoln County commissioners voted to apply for Montana state Disaster & Emergency Services (DES) emergency funding on behalf of the Port Authority to repair flood damage from the December event.
Jake Gu, chief of recovery and mitigation for Montana DES, told the board that state appropriations exist to cover emergency work in Lincoln County and that the county must sponsor the Port Authority as the applicant to access those funds. Gu said the Port Authority’s identified damages were “right around $432,000” for the head wall channel and associated engineering and project management costs.
Gu explained that state money is available now for emergency protective measures and temporary fixes, but permanent repairs may require additional appropriations or a presidential disaster declaration that would change federal eligibility. Commissioners moved to submit the state application and asked staff to coordinate with consultants; the motion passed.
Public commenters asked how the scope of repairs will be defined, how the public will see the scope, and how spending and progress will be made transparent. Gu and county commissioners said they will work with applicants and consultants to make project scope and progress public, and the board instructed staff to sign the required application documents and continue coordination with state DES.
