WASHINGTON COUNTY SAYS FEMA HAS ONLY FUNDED 50 PERCENT OF FLOOD REQUEST
Washington County Commissioners announced the county has received about half of their federally requested funding for flooding damages at today’s (Tuesday) meeting.
County Engineer Ross McCaul stated during the first monthly Road and Bridge report that the county has received about $1.54 million, out of the $3 million the county is eligible to receive for repairs during the flooding of 2016. County Judge John Brieden said the county is waiting for the rest of the funds.
Washington County paid $3.92 million total in repairs, but is only eligible to receive 75-percent of damages back as reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Brieden noted that, while FEMA has assisted the county with inspection and proper filling of paperwork, the reimbursement process has still been lengthy and “convoluted”. He did commend county staff on working hard to get everything correct through FEMA. Commissioner Kirk Hanath said “it’s taken all departments to get us to where we are”.
Also at the meeting, commissioners approved District Attorney Julie Renken’s request to hire a new investigator and assistant district attorney. The assistant district attorney will start at $70,000 a year, while the investigator will receive $61,000. Renken said these new hires are all accounted for in the budget, and that the budget has not increased.
Renken also said she plans to promote her existing assistant attorneys, Lauren Haevischer and Derek Estep, but will need to approve the change with the salary review committee.
Commissioners also approved the hiring of a second part-time clerk for Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace, Douglas Zwiener. Each of the clerks will receive $12.17 an hour until the new year begins, when their pay will be bumped up to $13.17 an hour. Zwiener said that the county is not paying for this, as he takes about $2,300 out of his yearly salary to give to part-time help.
The court also approved an inter-local agreement with the City of Burton for road maintenance on South Brazos Street. McCaul said the one-time agreement covers 800 linear feet within the city limits, costing just under $15,000.
Brieden said the county is not allowed to provide these services for free, and that the county is not making any profit off of this agreement. McCaul said the agreement would be of “no burden to the county”.
The court also renewed a memo of understanding with the Brazos Valley Council of Government. The county receives grants through the Council, to help with transportation needs of the Washington County Senior Center. Brieden said the only thing that has changed in the agreement is the effective dates; the amount of money has remained the same.
Commissioners also looked over a series of monthly reports, and proclaimed this Thursday as “Think Pink Thursday” in Washington County.
Maybe the county will receive the remaining FEMA funds by the 3 year anniversary of our 2016 flood, and maybe not. Why do they make it so difficult to get taxpayer funded FEMA? Are they out of money? Perhaps hoping cities will give up so they won’t hsve to pay at all? Every time it gets tougher and takes longer. Can’t ask our federal representatives these questions, they don’t make town hall appearances to the people who pay for their salaries, retirement, health benefits, etc.