Italy board approves survey, seeks hydrology study after FEMA project update

The Italy Town Board voted to hire a surveyor and pursue a hydrology study after a presentation from Ryan Frykholm of Disaster Recovery Partners about FEMA-funded recovery work from two recent disaster declarations.

Frykholm reviewed project estimates and status for 4625DR and 4825DR, saying, "The Town might be completed with roadway repairs. That's the $ 960,852." He explained that some restoration estimates—for example, Martin Road culvert at $427,165—could increase under a hazard-mitigation scope; in several cases mitigation raises the available funding to roughly double the restoration estimate. Board member Malcolm MacKenzie asked whether the county could perform the hydrology analysis; Frykholm recommended starting with a survey so Grove Engineering can size the mitigation work. The board then passed two motions: a contract with Mott Surveying for $10,000 and authorization for Disaster Recovery Partners to contact Yates County Soil & Water for a hydrology report.

The presentation also described an "alternate project" option for Lower Road: rather than replacing an upper culvert, FEMA could approve funds for municipal equipment or facilities if the board documents eligible public uses. "You could spend it as long as it's for public use and good," Frykholm said, noting examples such as a tractor, pickup, or heating and cooling work for town buildings. The board discussed funding scale and trade-offs, then approved the motions to advance the survey and hydrology steps to inform FEMA applications.