Osceola County sets public hearing on FEMA-funded drainage repairs after partial obligations

Speaker 1 said the county applied for and received a statewide FEMA extension for disaster projects and that Joint Drainage Districts 1, 2 and 3 with Osceola County have been obligated and FEMA funds for that portion are in the county bank. "We applied for that extension, and an extension was granted for all disaster projects… till 2020," Speaker 1 said, adding Dickinson County is obligated on four of five requests and that Joint Drainage District 61 is still awaiting obligation.

Speaker 1 described the county's original plan to package multiple projects to keep one contractor for grant administration and consistency, but said the lack of a time horizon for JDD 61 prompted a proposal to proceed now with obligated work: JDD 1, 2 and 3 (with Osceola County) and a separate Dickinson County project. Engineering reports contain the construction cost estimates; Speaker 1 noted the 85% FEMA/state funding figure is applied to estimates and the final payment will reflect the actual contract bid amounts.

Officials discussed the logistics of public notice timing. Speaker 4 proposed a public hearing on Feb. 24 at 09:00 to receive comments and then bid the obligated projects; Speaker 3 asked whether notice must be 20 or 40 days out and Speaker 4 confirmed at least 20 days. "That would be okay," Speaker 4 said of holding the hearing by Zoom. Speaker 5 (Morberson) moved to set the hearing for Feb. 24 at 09:00; Speaker 2 (Schulte) seconded. After limited procedural discussion on notice wording and attorney review, the board approved the motion by voice vote and the clerk recorded: "Motion, carried."

What happens next: the county will publish the hearing notice (paper and electronic as required), hold the hearing to receive public input, then release bid documents and seek contractor bids; FEMA and state reimbursements will be adjusted to the final contract numbers. The larger JDD 61 project remains dependent on FEMA obligation and was not scheduled.