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Commissioners seek clarity on FEMA grant as city, vendor press for siren payments
Summary
Daniels County commissioners and City of Scobey representatives discussed payment owed to vendor Redtail for two emergency sirens and uncertainty about FEMA grant reimbursement; officials reported about $86,000 owed to Redtail and debated whether reimbursement is still available if purchases preceded formal grant disbursement.
Daniels County commissioners and Scobey city representatives spent substantial time resolving payment and grant questions for two emergency sirens purchased for the city.
City crew member Sonia Southland told the commission, "Redtail wants to get paid," and staff and commissioners agreed the installed siren hardware had a large outstanding invoice. In discussion, a county speaker summarized the figures: "Well, sirens are 78,000" and city staff later referenced a total owed of about "86,000" to Redtail. Commissioners and city staff said the purchases were made before the grant funds were formally disbursed, raising concern that FEMA or related grant administrators could deny reimbursement for work completed prior to the grant award.
County staff said they would contact the grant manager (identified in the meeting as Pam) to clarify whether the grant could be reworded to cover installation/infrastructure for the second siren or whether the county would need to pay Redtail from year‑end budgets and seek reimbursement later. The chair noted the timing challenge: the county faces year‑end budget deadlines and the vendor expects timely payment.
The commission did not adopt a final payment resolution during the meeting; staff committed to follow up with the grant administrator, and the board agreed to revisit the question when the county has the grant administrator's guidance. Provenance: topic began at SEG 329 and continued through SEG 905.
