Since Memorial Day Weekend, officials with Trigg County have been working diligently on the necessary steps for disaster declaration. Judge-Executive Stan Humphries made the call six hours into those Sunday storms.
Governor Andy Beshear forwarded his concerns to federal authorities in Washington, D.C.
During Monday night’s fiscal court meeting, Emergency Manager David Bryant confirmed those messages have not only been heard, but answered with a national declaration of disaster, and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are now in the area — ready to assist with possible reparations not provided through typical insurance policies.
A temporary Disaster Recovery Center is opening Tuesday at the Trigg County Emergency Operations Center on 39 Jefferson Street, with working hours of 10 AM until 7 PM Monday through Saturday. Similar locations have also opened in Christian, Caldwell and Knox counties.
This kiosk will be available for at least 30 days, and will allow impacted residents to appropriately file for federal assistance in a one-stop shop.
Also on Tuesday, Bryant said a disaster team will begin its canvassing of the county, in order to review assets, property, roadways and any other major damage concerns brought to its attention.
Humphries noted some preliminary contact to the community was made at this past weekend’s farmers’ market, and a dozen or so families have already begun the FEMA recovery process.
Even though the federal disaster was declared on July 23, Bryant said those impacted have another 60 following days to make an individual assistance FEMA claim — meaning late September will be the deadline, nearly four months after those storms.
The public assistance ask, Bryant said, is going to be debris removal — which at one point had a cost estimate north of $600,000. Humphries noted the county will still have to absorb about 13% of this sticker price, and that there were other ways to shave costs.
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Bryant and Humphries also clarified how FEMA approves its funding.
In other fiscal court news:
— Magistrates approved the first reading of the annual tax levy, which at the compensating rate brings county real estate down from 7.9 cents per $100 value down to 7.2 cents, hospital down from 8.5 cents per $100 value down to 7.6 cents, and ambulance down from 8.5 cents per $100 value down to 7.6 cents.
Humphries said this was made possible because real estate value, including public service companies, surpassed the $1.2 billion mark in Trigg County. Over the last year, this is an increase of more than $170 million, and of that $170 million, more than $140 million of it is new assessment of existing property. And of the more than $30 million in new property, $20 million of it is in residential, $14 million of it is through industry.
Gross receipts, he said, should surpass $14 million.
— Rick Clement, Cadiz Rotary Club president, presented their check of $50,000 for the new senior citizens bus, which Humphries said has arrived from Wildcat Chevrolet, and now only needs a wrap to be provided by Cadiz-Trigg County Tourism. A ribbon cutting will be held at a later date.
— Trigg County Special Olympics was honored Monday, given a full presentation and a $3,911 check from all proceeds collected during the weekend softball matchup between city and county officials. It was noted that flag football will likely be a competitive initiative for the group.
— Magistrates moved to executive session, without action, for discussions pertaining and pursuant to the possible sale of county property. South Western Kentucky’s Carter Hendricks and Sharon Butts were among the presenters in this conversation.
