COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
February 15, 2019
Commissioners Robert ‘Pits’ DeArmond, Scott Blain, and Bill Bullock, and Administrative Officer Angela Newell were present.
10:00 DES Coord. / GIS Mgr. Tom Kohley, Floodplain Admin/Deputy DES Coord. Annie Gillespie, and Melinda Godwin FEMA Program Delivery Manager met with Commissioners regarding recovery scoping for spring 2018 flooding; other FEMA representatives participated via phone. President Trump made the Disaster Declaration October 31, 2018 which covers flooding damage in the period of May 1 – June 10, 2018. Commissioner Blain noted the Joliet and Red Lodge Road Districts had multiple road and culvert washouts as well as a bridge abutment washout on the Silesia Bridge. Commissioner Bullock confirmed all damage was to road and bridge infrastructure. The only other applicable project category will be for staff administrative time.
10:15 Carbon County News reporter Eleanor Guerrero joined the meeting.
Melinda noted if the repairs changed the footprint of the road or the size of the culvert changed, the additional costs incurred for the changes are considered mitigation and the County will have to apply for mitigation funding. Melinda discussed the gravel pits that materials were taken from; FEMA requires SHPO letters for all gravel pits to confirm they are authorized. Melinda reviewed the mitigation process noting that Hydrologic and Hydraulic Studies will be required to justify the upscaled culverts. Commissioner Blain noted the repairs to the Silesia Bridge only replaced rip rap and putting the bridge back to its pre-flood state; this would not be considered mitigation. Mitigation costs can be up to 15% of the total project cost.
Melinda discussed project grouping. Melinda will group the two projects that include mitigation together, the rest of the Joliet District repairs into another project, the Red Lodge District repairs into another project, and administrative time into a fourth project. Melinda and Commissioner Blain discussed work done to stabilize the bank and add rip rap to Cottonwood Road; this project may qualify as a mitigation project.
Melinda noted the Sand Cr. Culvert project was outside of the disaster date range and would not be eligible without going through an appeal.
Angela and Tom reviewed the history of the emergency mill levy on the 2018 tax bills that will help fund the repairs.
12:15 Commissioner Bullock moved to approve Resolution 2019-02 Prosecutorial Assistance in State v Tyge DeVries, Cause No. DC 17-48; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
Commissioner Bullock moved to approve the 2020 Emergency Management Planning Grant application; Commissioner DeArmond seconded; motion carried.
12:20 Adjourned
Respectfully submitted: Angela Newell, Administrative Officer