No FEMA Relief Money for State, Worth County

The Worth County Commission, at its regular meeting Monday, found out that there would be no FEMA relief money for the recent flooding that took place in the area. The county estimated that there was over $800,000 in flood damage including gravel washed out, tubes washed out, and culverts. Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall reported that he found six more culverts that washed out for a total of 12. Most had been rotted out; one was reusable. One has been fixed, and another can be downsized.

Economic Developer Kevin Fisher requested aid for a massive float that will be at the Old Defiance Days Parade Saturday, June 20th that will celebrate the county. He also requested money for a hot air balloon ride that is tentatively scheduled to take place on July 3rd. The county approved both requests.

Details are being worked out for a hot air balloon ride that will take place July 3rd during celebrations for the country’s 250th anniversary. It will be on land owned by Bill Calhoon south of Allendale. There will be two balloons. MFA donated the propane for the event, while the Grant City Lions Club donated the land and insurance. The event got a large private donation as well.

The lift on the white truck is not working; the cable was worn out. The county is putting on tax rock in the southwest corner of the county. There is one day left, and Worth is nearly done.

The county will look at how it gets gravel to roads every year. The county switched to hauling its own rock rather than hiring it out; however, recurring breakdowns on all three of its trucks are canceling out savings from doing their own gravel hauling. The goal had been to put more gravel on roads per mile to bring it in line with neighboring counties.

The county will start a new round of brush enforcement this year.

Mr. Fletchall said that the county would need a new power washer. The old one is a chore to get hot water to.

 

Committee Approves Graves Bill to Streamline FEMA

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation on Wednesday to provide the most robust legislative reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and federal disaster assistance programs in decades.

The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669) streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency once again that is directly accountable to the President.  The bill rewards effective state and local preparedness, protects taxpayers, cuts red tape, and ensures that relief efforts are fast, fair, and free from political bias.

“The FEMA Act is designed to address one simple fact that we all recognize, especially Americans who have been impacted by disasters: FEMA is not working the way it should for our communities,” said Chairman Graves.  “This bill makes FEMA directly accountable to the President, replaces the slow and bureaucratic rebuilding process, makes critical reforms to speed up federal processes, makes disaster assistance work better for survivors, demands greater transparency from FEMA, and more.”

The FEMA Act was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO); Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); former Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee lead Republican Daniel Webster (R-FL); and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ). 

 

Opinion -- Graves Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reform FEMA

By Congressman Sam Graves’ Office

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders introduced legislation in the U.S. House that would provide the most robust legislative reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and federal disaster assistance programs in decades.

The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 (H.R. 4669) was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO); Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA); former Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee lead Republican Daniel Webster (R-FL); and Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee Ranking Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ). The FEMA Act was introduced following Graves’ and Larsen’s release of a discussion draft bill on May 8, 2025, and the subsequent feedback the Committee received on the draft from Members of Congress and the emergency management stakeholder community.

The FEMA Act streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency once again that is directly accountable to the President. The bill rewards effective state and local preparedness, protects taxpayers, cuts red tape, and ensures that relief efforts are fast, fair, and free from political bias.

“The American people need an emergency management system that works quickly and effectively, not one that makes disaster recovery more difficult,” said Chairman Graves. “But time and time again, we’ve heard the same story from state and local officials, emergency managers, and disaster victims: the federal process is too slow, complicated, and disconnected from the realities on the ground. Communities trying to rebuild are forced to navigate a maze of complicated rules, conflicting timelines, and mountains of burdensome paperwork. FEMA is in need of serious reform, and the goal of the FEMA Act of 2025 is to fix it. This bill does more than any recent reforms to cut through the bureaucracy, streamline programs, provide flexibility, and return FEMA to its core purpose of empowering the states to lead and coordinating the federal response when it’s needed.”

“Billion-dollar disasters—like the devastating 2021 flooding in Skagit and Whatcom counties – threaten the safety and livelihood of communities in Washington and across America as the severity of disasters increase,” Ranking Member Larsen said. “This bipartisan bill will make FEMA stronger and more efficient, giving it the tools it needs to provide relief to disaster-impacted communities like those in my district hit by the 2024 Bomb Cyclone. Thank you to my counterpart, Chairman Sam Graves, for partnering on this bipartisan solution.”

“As a Floridian, I know firsthand the damage that hurricanes and natural disasters bring, and how important effective preparation, response and relief is when tragedy strikes,” said Rep. Webster. “Florida has set the gold standard for disaster mitigation and emergency response, and this legislation builds on that success at the national level. By streamlining FEMA and cutting red tape, we ensure that federal disaster response is faster, more efficient, and accountable to the American people.”

“FEMA’s mission is to help Americans in their darkest hour. The agency isn’t perfect, and its job is getting harder as disasters grow more frequent and more severe. But the solution is not to tear FEMA down – it’s to work across the aisle to build FEMA up,” said Ranking Member Stanton. “This bipartisan bill takes common-sense steps to streamline the agency and make sure communities get disaster assistance quickly, efficiently and fairly.”

Summary of the FEMA Act of 2025

The FEMA Act of 2025 restores FEMA’s original status as an independent agency, reporting directly to the President and overseen by its own inspector general.

This structure mirrors the Stafford Act, which authorizes the President to direct federal disaster response efforts through the Disaster Relief Fund.

Returning FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency will empower the Administrator to lead a coordinated, government-wide response to disasters.

FEMA will become more agile and focused on helping Americans – not bogged down by having its resources and personnel diverted to support non-Stafford Act disasters.

The FEMA Act of 2025 puts disaster-impacted states in the driver’s seat, helps dollars reach communities faster, injects common sense, and cuts red tape that can drag out disaster recovery for decades.

By replacing the slow and bureaucratic rebuilding process with faster, project-based grants, states will be able to set the pace of recovery, reduce their dependence on costly consultants, and prioritize the highest need projects, without having to take out expensive loans or wait years for reimbursement.

For the first time, states are incentivized to make their own investments in mitigation, robust state rainy day funds, and private insurance policies.

This legislation also makes critical reforms to federal permitting and procurement processes to speed up rebuilding projects and eliminate unnecessary delays.

In addition, the FEMA Act of 2025 establishes a Recovery Task Force charged with closing out more than 1,000 lingering disaster declarations dating back to Hurricane Katrina and directs FEMA to improve coordination across all federal agencies involved in disaster recovery.

The FEMA Act of 2025 makes commonsense changes to help disaster aid work better for survivors, while saving taxpayer dollars.

Disaster survivors will complete a single, streamlined application when applying for assistance, significantly reducing the paperwork burden.

FEMA must provide clear, understandable notices to disaster survivors, ending the confusion caused by complex and jargon-filled denial letters.

It directs the FEMA Administrator to apply practical, survivor-focused solutions that both speed assistance to disaster victims and reduce overall costs to taxpayers.

The FEMA Act of 2025 removes disincentives that have discouraged donations from charities, religious organizations, and the public, ensuring more non-federal support is available for disaster survivors.

States are given more flexibility to determine the best emergency housing solution for a particular disaster.

The FEMA Act of 2025 strengthens efforts to protect communities before a disaster occurs.

The FEMA Act 2025 overhauls FEMA’s existing mitigation framework to accelerate project timelines, reduce long-term disaster costs, and ensure greater coordination across federal funding streams, so states can more effectively leverage resources.

States can pre-vet mitigation projects through a peer-review process to speed up funding when disaster strikes and combine funds from federal programs to expedite the completion of critical projects.

The FEMA Act of 2025 clarifies building code requirements, ensuring states retain the flexibility to tailor standards to the hazards they face.

The legislation also supports homeowners as they invest in cost-effective mitigation improvements, reducing long-term disaster costs.

The FEMA Act of 2025 prevents the politicization of disaster aid and demands greater transparency and accountability from FEMA.

The FEMA Act of 2025 strictly prohibits any political discrimination in providing disaster recovery assistance. It directs the Office of Management and Budget to establish a centralized public website that tracks disaster assistance funding across the federal government.

The bill mandates a full Government Accountability Office review of all FEMA regulations and policies to eliminate outdated, conflicting, and unnecessary rules.

It also requires an assessment of identity theft and disaster fraud risks, and directs reviews related to insurance coverage, the effectiveness of public alerting systems, and cost savings associated with the reforms in the discussion draft.

Worth County Hazardous Mitigation Plan Approved

On Tuesday, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the Worth County Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. The plan will be in effect until March 4th, 2027.

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council conducted meetings with city and county officials, emergency management agencies, school leaders, stakeholders, and other interested individuals to update the plan and reduce the negative impacts of natural hazards in the future. With an approved plan, Worth County and its participating jurisdictions will be eligible state hazardous mitigation grant funding opportunities.

To view the plan, visit the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments website or contact Amy Dowis at amy@nwmorcog.org.

Hazardous Mitigation Plan for Worth County Being Updated

The Hazardous Mitigation Plan for Worth County is in the process of being updated. This plan must be updated every few years in order for the county to continue to get FEMA hazardous mitigation funding. 

The county is in the process of getting public comments regarding risk assessments for the county. 22 surveys have been returned so far. The risk assessment public comment period ends June 25th.

As part of developing the plan, three meetings are held. The second of three meetings was held Monday evening. The county and other jurisdictions are holding them in conjunction with the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments.

Risk assessment was discussed at Monday’s Zoom meeting. Sinkholes were eliminated as a risk. 

Flooding, including levee failure and dam failure, was discussed. There is a potential of $2,431,000 in losses from flooding in the county. There have been 12 Presidential declarations for Worth County, including two in 2015. Losses from levee breaks would mostly affect agricultural assets. 

There were three dams in the county identified by the state as high hazard dams. They include Aldridge Lake near Sheridan, Dunfee Dam near Denver, and Zollman Dam near Worth. 

While there is less than a 1% chance of an earthquake in Worth County, the potential loss from such an event would be $715,000.

Droughts are usually covered by crop insurance, but it would affect water systems. There is a 28% chance for at least a moderate drought in any given year. Extreme heat and cold would affect both the very young and the very old. 

There have been nine thunderstorm events in the last 10 years, and 21 hail events for a total of $220,000 in damages. There are usually two disaster declarations a year for winter-related events, with a total estimated loss of $13,000.

Since 1965, there have been seven Presidential declarations for tornadoes. Around 8.3% of homes in Worth County are mobile homes. There is hazardous mitigation money for tornado safe rooms for future projects. 

Wildfires affect around 600 acres a year annually in Worth County. One such wildfire almost destroyed the Sheridan Rural Housing three decades ago. 

In 2018, the state implemented a plan which involved ensuring continuity, protecting public and private property, and community tranquility. In 2017, Worth County’s plan involved protecting life and property along with ensuring continued operation. The county must decide which goals and actions to keep, and which ones to modify or delete. Actions in the 2017 plan included maintaining and expanding severe weather alerts, identifying people most at risk during heat and cold and checking on them, and maintaining school involvement. 

Also on Monday, the Biden Administration announced it would be doubling the size of a FEMA program that will give money to state and local governments to reduce vulnerability before disaster happens. Part of the program involves relocating or elevating flood-prone homes.

Gov. Nixon requests federal government to cover 100 percent of public assistance costs in response to natural disasters in Missouri

Gov. Jay Nixon today requested that the federal government cover 100 percent of the costs associated with public assistance in the wake of storms and floods that have hit Missouri since April 19. At a minimum, Gov. Nixon requested that the federal government adjust its typical cost-share arrangement for public assistance to allow for a 90 percent federal match, with a 10 percent match from the state and local governments.

Under the federal Public Assistance Program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency typically covers 75 percent of the uninsured costs associated with recovery and repair for public buildings and infrastructure. Non-federal agencies, including the state and local governments, must then provide a 25 percent match.

In his request to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Gov. Nixon stressed the historic devastation caused by tornadoes, high winds, hail and flooding across Missouri in recent weeks, especially in the City of Joplin and in southeastern Missouri, where thousands of acres were flooded after the intentional breach of the Birds Point levee. He noted that federal, state and local agencies continue to work with volunteer and non-profit groups on critical response and recovery efforts, and that the full extent of the uninsured damage to public buildings and infrastructure is unknown.

Earlier this week, FEMA committed to cover 90 percent of the costs of expedited debris removal in the City of Joplin.

“Mother Nature has inflicted severe damage and destruction to communities across Missouri this spring,” Gov. Nixon said. “We still don’t know the total extent of the damage tornadoes, floods and other disasters have caused, but we are committed to recovering and rebuilding from these storms. I appreciate the continued support of our federal partners in these efforts, and this adjusted cost-share would make a real difference for our state. These funds will go directly to rebuilding local communities and moving our entire state forward.”

Presidential Disaster Declaration DR-1980 encompasses numerous recent disasters in Missouri, including: the tornado damage in the St. Louis area, including at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport; the flooding in southern Missouri; the intentional breach of the Birds Point-New Madrid levee; and the catastrophic tornado in Joplin. Gov. Nixon’s request asks FEMA to adjust its cost-share arrangement so that the federal government covers100 percent of the Public Assistance costs associated with this entire declaration.

Beware Of Scam Artists

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cautions Missouri survivors of the recent severe storms, flooding and tornadoes to be on the lookout for scam artists pretending to be employed by FEMA or another government agency, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Historically, disasters bring out the very best in people and there are countless stories of neighbors helping neighbors. Unfortunately, our experience shows us that disasters also bring out the worst in some people and storm survivors should be vigilant in protecting their personal assets, particularly when living in such a stressful environment.

“Consumers should keep in mind that a FEMA or SBA shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of someone’s affiliation with these agencies,” said FEMA’s Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner. “The best way to verify authorized FEMA or SBA personnel is by checking their laminated photo identification card, which they are required to wear at all times.”

One common fraudulent scheme involves con artists going door-to-door of damaged homes, or phoning victims, and soliciting personal information such as social security and bank account numbers. Consumers should know that FEMA inspectors never require this information. A social security or bank account number is requested during the first phone call to the FEMA registration line. On any follow-up calls, a FEMA representative may ask for the last four digits of your social security number but never the whole number.

There have been reports, during earlier disasters, of scammers telling homeowners they need to pay $1,500 to be put on a list to get their home repaired. Other reports have surfaced of persons pretending to be from the SBA and offering to fill out disaster loan applications for a $50 fee. Survivors should remember that under no circumstances are FEMA or SBA representatives allowed to accept money. FEMA staff registers all applicants without charge and experts are located at Disaster Recovery Centers to assist storm survivors with their application for disaster aid. Also, there is never a charge to be placed on a “FEMA List” or to have SBA representatives assist applicants with their disaster loan application.

Other points to keep in mind to avoid becoming a fraud victim:

•Check on a contractor’s licensing status with local or State licensing agencies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau, homebuilders association or trade council to see if the contracting firm has any unanswered complaints against it;
•Be suspicious of anyone who offers to increase the amount of your disaster damage assessment;
•Ask for proof of insurance. If a contractor is uninsured, you may be liable for accidents on your property. Make sure the contractor has both disability and worker’s compensation insurance;
•Ask for a written estimate and check to make sure it includes all work you expect to have done, as well as taxes and other fees. Keep in mind that some contractors charge for an estimate;
•Once you decide to use a particular contractor, ask for a written contract that includes all tasks to be performed as well as associated costs, a timeline and payment schedule, and who is responsible for necessary permits and licenses. Never sign a blank contract;
•Do not give anyone an advance cash payment. Pay by check in order to keep a record and avoid double charges;
•Legitimate contractors normally do not require more than one-third of the total charges as a down payment;
•Ask for a written guarantee that states what is covered, who is responsible and how long the guarantee is valid;
• If you feel uncomfortable about a contract and have already signed it, cancel it quickly. You may cancel some contracts within three business days after signing. Be sure to follow the contract cancellation clause procedures.
If you think you have been victimized by fraud or suspect fraudulent activity, please report it to the Missouri State Attorney General’s office at 1-573-751-3321.

FEMA Committed To Finding Temporary Housing For Storm Survivors

Helping survivors of the recent severe storms, flooding and tornadoes find temporary housing is one of the priority activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), local government and voluntary agencies.

A housing mission planning team is on the ground in Missouri to support the state in meeting its objectives of finding temporary suitable and functional housing in the communities impacted by the recent severe weather. Emergency assistance workers have been conducting call-outs to disaster assistance applicants to determine each applicant’s individual housing needs.

This team, comprised of housing and technical experts from FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Rural Development, and voluntary agencies, is assisting the state-led housing task force in establishing housing priorities and seeking ways to maximize housing resources, such as apartments and rental units and other options.

FEMA is asking landlords with available rental housing to register their units by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). When local rental resources do not exist, other options may be considered to help people find a safe and sanitary place to live.

The first step for individuals to be considered for temporary housing assistance is to register with FEMA. Registration may be completed online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by smartphone through m.FEMA.gov, or by phone by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Individuals with hearing or speech impairment may call TTY 1-800-462-7585, or use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) to call 1-800-621-3362. Telephone registration is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., every day.

Inspectors are on the ground assessing the registrant’s storm damage, and FEMA is approving financial assistance for housing, such as rental assistance, home repair and replacement money, and financial assistance for other essential disaster-related needs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans to help

homeowners, renters and businesses rebuild or repair their damaged houses and replace lost property. Filling out an SBA application is part of the FEMA registration process. A substantial amount of disaster aid comes through SBA disaster loans.

As of close of business, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 10,624 disaster survivors have registered with FEMA for some form of disaster aid. To date, more than $15 million has been approved.

PSWD #1 Refuses to Pay to Connect or Disconnect from Grant City

The current contract between the Worth County Rural Water District and the City of Grant City is up for renewal in 2014 and the Rural Water District says that they will not pay to connect or disconnect under a new contract. Board member Steven Combs said at the regular RWD meeting last Wednesday that the City of Grant City had mailed a contract to the Rural Water District including a fee for connecting or disconnecting from the system and hooking up with SIRWA. They are still operating under the old contract with Grant City, which was signed in April, 1977 and which is in effect until 2014. Currently, the city is seeking loan approval for the recently-passed bond issue; Combs said that their loan approval depends on the RWD's signature for a contract. But Combs said that "We're not going to do some 30 year deal like that with the city. We can sign something saying we intend to purchase water from Grant City."

Combs said that when the city and the Rural Water District signed their contract, there was no other water service available yet. But Combs said that the RWD disconnected from Grant City only for their benefit; for instance, he said that they did so to prevent water from getting so low that a boil order would be triggered. He said that the RWD had bent over backwards to help the city get through any water troubles that they had and that it was still RWD's intent to buy from Grant City because it cost a lot more to get it from SIRWA.

The RWD was dealing with meters which had a lot of water meters under them because of the recent weather issues. They are in the process of working on washouts to meet a FEMA deadline to get money from them.

The board hired Bobbi Jo Gladstone as the new secretary to replace Shannon Burns. She will assume her duties May 1st and her starting salary will be $13 an hour. It will go up to $15 an hour.

Board member Ted Findley reported that his water system had been going bad for a day or two and then it would be fine. Other board members told him to talk to Ed Ackley to discuss the problem.

Worth County Declared Federal Disaster Area for February Snowstorms

Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced that President Barack Obama has approved the majority of Governor Jay Nixon’s request for federal disaster relief following winter storms that hit the state in early February 2011. Earlier this month, McCaskill and Senator Roy Blunt sent a letter of support urging the president to grant Nixon’s request to declare 64 counties in Missouri a federal disaster area. Today the president announced a major disaster declaration for the State of Missouri and released federal funds to help cover emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities for 59 counties in Missouri. Additionally, the entire state of Missouri is eligible for hazard mitigation assistance grant funds.

In their letter, the senators stressed that federal assistance is essential to help Missouri communities recover from the severe winter storms. Although Nixon’s entire request was not granted, today’s announcement will mean significant federal help for Missouri communities struggling to recover from the damage caused by the most recent round of winter storms. Specifically, the Governor had requested public assistance (including snow removal) for 62 affected counties, public assistance (not including snow removal) for two counties, and hazard mitigation grant assistance for the entire state.

Counties included in today’s announcement are Adair, Andrew, Audrain, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, DeKalb, Grundy, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Osage, Pettis, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, St. Clair, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Vernon and Worth. Nodaway and Gentry counties were not included in the declaration.

FEMA Pledges to Rethink Model for Determining Flood Maps

Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is applauding the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for their plans to immediately put on hold
changes to the Flood Map Modernization Program that could have resulted in
skyrocketing flood insurance rates for many Missourians.  This announcement came in
response to a letter McCaskill sent along with 26 of her colleagues last month urging FEMA to consider the impact
of the program on affected areas.

In the letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate on February 3, the bipartisan group
of senators asked the agency to change its policy regarding uncertified levees when
calculating who is required to buy federal flood insurance, shielding Missourians
who live in high-risk flood zones from rising insurance costs.

"I'm pleased that FEMA heeded our request to discontinue their current approach and
will now work to replace it with more precise methods that don't unfairly punish
Missouri's communities. I will continue to monitor this process to ensure that FEMA
employs modeling techniques that are both fair and accurate," McCaskill said.

Additionally, in the coming months, FEMA has committed to developing new policies
for modeling flood risks.  Until new policies can be put in place, FEMA will
withhold from issuing new Flood Insurance Rate Maps in communities that could
possibly benefit under the revised process.

County Qualifies for FEMA Money for Recent Snowstorm

Unofficial Minutes for the Thursday, February 10th meeting for the Worth County Commission provided by County Clerk Roberta Owens:

Meeting was called to order at 2:10 am by Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley. Members present: Findley, Ruckman and Gabbert.

1. Commissioner Ruckman made a motion to approve the agenda and minutes. Gabbert seconded, motion carried.

2. Commissioner Gabbert made a motion to approve the bills and payroll. Ruckman seconded. Motion carried.

3. Linda Brown, County Treasurer presented the shortened financial report.

4. Ruckman reported gas prices from MFA, gasoline 3.009 and diesel 3.419

5. Pat Kobbe, Emergency Management Coordinator came by to ask the Commissioners if they would be interested in being the handling agency for a Grant to buy defibulaters. Julia Cox is interested in filling out the Grant information. The Commissioners are interested and will pursue the issue further and see what all it entails. Kobbe also told the commissioners that we will qualify for the FEMA money for the latest snow storm. Kobbe also reported that she is going to visit with Matt Robinson, school Superintendent about hooking up with the school's text alert system. It will be good for Emergencies.

6. After looking over mechanic reports and oil samples. Plus much discussion the commissioners decided to look at the dozer, loader, and stump grinder at Government Surplus in Jefferson City MO. Motion by Gabbert to appraise the bulldozer, two wheel loader, and the stump grinder. See what kind of price they can get. If there is a pickup reasonably priced the commissioners will look at it also. Ruckman seconded. Motion carried.

7. Commissioner Ruckman adjourned the meeting at 5:40 pm

McCaskill writes letter to FEMA seeking answers on flood maps

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and 26 of her colleagues this week urged the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to help protect Missourians from skyrocketing flood insurance rates through changes to the Flood Map Modernization Program. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, the bipartisan group of senators asked the agency to change its policy regarding uncertified levees when calculating who is required to buy federal flood insurance, shielding Missourians who live in high-risk flood zones from rising insurance costs.

“We support FEMA’s efforts to maximize taxpayer dollars by choosing simpler, more cost effective modeling techniques when appropriate,” the senators wrote. “However, in cases where FEMA treats a flood control structure as if it has been completely wiped off the map, we may be unnecessarily devaluing property and hurting the economies of cities, towns, counties and businesses.”

In this letter, the senators said they believe FEMA has the capabilities to acknowledge that some levees provide a level of protection, and they shouldn’t be ignored. The senators added that with the nation still recovering from the worst economic downturn in 80 years, sticking with such a simplified mapping program could suppress some Americans’ property values and slow the financial recovery. Read the full letter here.

Last March, McCaskill also signed a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressing similar concerns about the accuracy of the mapping process. That letter is available here.

Governor Requests Disaster Declaration for Missouri

Gov. Jay Nixon today requested from President Barack Obama an emergency declaration for the entire state of Missouri to assist local jurisdictions and the state with the cost of responding to the record snowfall that affected almost the entire state, beginning on Jan. 31.

“This week’s blizzard and severe winter storm hit with a fury, depositing up to 21 inches of snow, forcing the closure of almost the entire length of Interstate 70 and a significant portion of Interstate 44, and burdening local jurisdictions and the state with tremendous response costs,” said Gov. Nixon. “I am asking the President to issue an emergency declaration to assist with some of the costs of this historic statewide response.”

Gov. Nixon’s request for an emergency declaration is for all 114 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis. Many communities received record or near-record snowfall totals, and they continue to dig out from the largest statewide snowfall in a generation. The declaration would enable the state and local governments to seek reimbursement for some of their costs in responding to the storm to protect public health and safety.

On Jan. 31, Gov. Nixon declared a state of emergency, which activated the State Emergency Operations Center and allowed state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency preparation and response. The same day, the Governor also activated 600 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Missouri National Guard to support local emergency agencies. The Guard continues to assist communities across the state and the State Emergency Operations Center continues to operate 24 hours a day to aid local communities with resource requests.

Grant City Council Meeting: Around $20,000 Raised for Pool Renovation Project

Economic Developer Charity Austin reported to the council that people had donated over $18,000 for the pool renovation project so far. The council met with Auditor David Rowe to discuss how best the city could manage the project. He said that it was best if the city oversaw the project since the city owns the pool; therefore, he said that all the money had to come through the city. He said that it was OK for the city to transfer the $25,000 that they pledged from the Street Light Fund since it was a transfer to a user-based account. This brings the total amount pledged from city and private donors combined to $43,000. Persons wanting to make a donation can send it to the WCPO Pool Fund at PO Box 53, Grant City, MO 64456.
After the meeting, even more money was raised; Austin told the Sheridan Express that the fundraiser dinner before the Draft Horse Pull Sunday brought in another $1,500 in donations; she estimated that the amount of money donated to the pool project was close to $20,000 as of Monday.
Austin said that she planned to send out even more fundraising letters; she said that she had already sent out 250 fundraising letters to Worth County Alumni for the pool renovations. She said that Brock Pfost was willing to donate some of the piping for the project and that volunteer crews were working. Becky McElvain of the Pool Renovation Committee reported to the Express in an e-mail that the Worth County Football Team had worked on the pool Wednesday night; a new blog has been started to report on progress of the renovations. The address is http://www.grantcitypool.blogspot.com/. There will be work nights every Tuesday and Thursday nights; weekends might be added as work nights as well.
Rowe said that the city would have to keep track of volunteer hours performed and that the project would fall under prevailing wage guidelines, but City Attorney David B. Parman said that the Division of Labor was not going to care in Grant City’s case since there were no unions involved in the project.
The council voted to approve the contract with Snyder and Associates for the Downtown Renovation Project.
Public Works Director Carl Staton told the council that the city had put in a new fire hydrant by Worth County lumber, put in a tube by Bob Wilson’s, and had fixed some of the signs that were torn up by the vandalism sprees this year. He said that it would take a lot of loads of clay to fix up the baseball diamond; the city has agreed to donate labor to the project and Staton said he would meet with Chuck Borey to discuss what was needed. He reported that the work on the streets would start next week; he said that the city would need to fix McKinney Street, which has ruts, a sand base, no crown, and extensive truck traffic.
The council discussed doing level billing for gas customers and discussed the rules. Customers must have had a 12-month history, and delinquencies would null and void the contract. They would run for a 12-month period with refunds at the end of the 12-month period. Currently, the city is doing a trial run starting in August to work out any glitches in the system. Parman and council members said the plan would help with residents on fixed incomes who were having trouble paying high heating bills during the winter months by avoiding bills of as high as $350. City Attorney David Parman said that he would draw up a proposed contract for the council to look at next meeting.
The council voted to accept a bid for tire mulch for the pool park from Entire Recycling for $6,144.32 which was the only bidder for the project. There were two $500 donations to the project, which means that the Park Board will have almost $1,000 left over. Councilwoman Linda Phipps was not present; Cathy James made the motion to accept the bid. But councilmen Bruce Downing and Doug Pickering, who voted against donating the money at the last meeting, refused to second the motion; Mayor Debbie Roach reached Phipps by phone and Phipps seconded the motion, which resulted in a 2-2 split. Roach cast the tiebreaking vote in favor of the bid. The Park Board subsequently scheduled a work day on Saturday, August 2nd at 8:30 a.m. to put in the mulch; the board is calling for volunteers for the project. (Ad, Page 10)
Clerk Ayvonne Morin reported that the city did not receive any bids for the debris management plan; she said that she would note that in the city’s FEMA management book.
The council voted to donate $100 to the Worth County Fall Festival.
Councilman Bruce Downing asked why Windstream was not paying its franchise fees like Aquila/KCPL does with Grant City. "We have to give the phone company right of way and work around their phone lines," he said. "They are collecting a tax in our name, but the city is not getting a dime." City Attorney David Parman said that he would look into the matter.