Commissioners learn about FEMA grant requirements

The Antelope County Commissioners met on Tuesday, Aug. 9 for a regular meeting in the county courthouse.

Commissioners Charlie Henery and Carolyn Pedersen were not in attendance of the meeting.

Several items on the agenda were discussed but at 9:40 a.m. Bobbi Risor, Region 11 emergency manager, approached the commissioners about the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant through FEMA.

The grant was applied for in 2020, and Antelope County itself participated fully in the grant. However, Elgin, Neligh, Brunswick, Clearwater, Oakdale, Orchard and Royal were all marked no because they had not participated fully in the grant. This means that if there had been a disaster and the towns had applied for FEMA money, FEMA then would have the right to tell them no that the money cannot be reimbursed due to not fully participating.

Risor explained that in the future at least one person from each community needs to attend two meetings - one from each set of meetings: the first set being in September or October then the second set will be in January or Febrary. Participants can attend via Zoom or even have a one-on-one meeting with JEO. After they attend both meetings, each entity has to pass a resolution in their community for the approval of a hazard mitigation plan. After these steps are done, the towns will receive a yes after their named through JEO, allowing for reimbursement if a disaster were to occur within the next five years.

Risor mentioned that she needs help getting the participation through the towns because of the importance of this reimbursement grant. She also said JEO would prefer the clerks or a village board member to be the ones to participate because they will ask questions like: “What has happened in the community in the last 15 years, disaster wise?” These individuals should have the knowledge to answer those questions.

Commissioner Regina Krebs said she would speak with village and city clerks to inform them about this.