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Haywood County panel authorizes Southern Disaster Recovery to start emergency stream and private-property debris removal
Summary
Haywood County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR) to begin emergency stream debris removal on 22 permitted sites and to implement a private property debris-removal option, after presentations from SDR, state emergency management and FEMA officials about timing, permits and reimbursement plans.
Haywood County commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the county manager to issue a notice to proceed to Southern Disaster Recovery (SDR) to implement emergency stream debris removal on sites already permitted after Hurricane Helene and to begin the county'level private property debris removal (PPDR) process.
SDR president Chip Patterson told the board the company's first package on the Pigeon River contained roughly 22 sites that received eligibility determinations and permits. "We've removed somewhere around, 33, 34,000 cubic yards of debris," Patterson said, citing prior right-of-way work after Tropical Storm Fred and describing the two-phase waterway approach: in-water debris clearance followed by hauling, processing and final disposal or beneficial reuse. Patterson said SDR could begin rights-of-entry work and mobilize crews "the day after" the county issues a notice to proceed.
The board's decision followed extended discussion about tradeoffs between contracting with SDR and requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform the work. State and FEMA officials told commissioners the Corps option requires a formal assessment and bidding process that could take 30'60 days, while a private contractor could mobilize within about a week to 10 days for packages with existing eligibility and permits. Commissioner S2 moved to proceed with SDR; Commissioner S7 seconded and the chair called a unanimous voice vote in favor.
The motion authorizes the county manager to execute all related documents to start SDR'led emergency stream debris removal and to pursue PPDR where appropriate. The board did not record a roll-call tally; the vote was taken by voice and recorded in the meeting as unanimous.
