Board debates funding for hazard mitigation plan after state funding lapse

The board discussed whether to fund an updated hazard mitigation plan after the state declined to pay this year. Chair (S1) warned the county faces a choice: "we gotta come up with $29, roughly $30, or we don't do 1," framing the funding shortfall as a decision point for the coming budget cycle.

Members debated the plan's prior utility and whether expense would deliver grant-eligible outcomes. An emergency-services representative said the plan is important to maintain eligibility for federal and USDA grants and urged the board to continue it; another member said previous work did not translate into grant awards for all municipalities. The board noted limited internal grant-writing capacity and discussed using third-party vendors (Lexipol/GrantFinder were mentioned in materials) or including funding for grant-writing in the budget, with a decision to be weighed in the upcoming budget process.