Emergency Meeting Tol Review and Discuss possibly hiring a consultant regarding the The Board meetings are audio recorded. The public can hear and participate in the meeting via conference call "Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 1206" October 28, 2024 - 4:00 PM bya dialing (9177900-1022 and enter code. 32628. COMMISSIONERS Jody Stephenson, District 1, Vice Chairman Mark Hatch, District3 Jamie Storey, District 4, Chairman David Osteen, District 5 STAFF Chana Watson, County Attorney Barbie Higginbotham, Clerk of Court Verna Wilson, Chief Deputy Clerk Joannie Morse, Deputy Clerk 1. CALLTOORDER Commissioner. Jamie Storey calledt the meeting to order at 4:001 PM. 2. INVOCATIONANDI PLEDGE TOTHE AMERICANFLAG Thel Invocation was led by Commissioner Storey and thel Pledge was led by Commissioner Storey. Building Official Leon Wright approached thel Board tor remind everyone that hel had previously discussed hiring help with the 1206 Substantial Damagel Inspections. Hes statedt that they missed the deadlines for outside help with) Hurricane Idalia, but Hurricane Helene has opened the door back up. He said they have advertised: for help and have received one! bid from the same group working with Horseshoe Beach. Commissioner Hatch asked for the name of the company which submitted the bid. Act Section 1206. Seconded by Commissioner Stephenson. Board approved. 3. DISCUSSION: Mr. Wright saidt the name oft their company is Savinacious. Commissioner, Hatch made the motion tol hire. Savinacious to help with the Disaster Recovery Reform (Resended. later in meeting) Commissioner Storey stated that he wenti tol Horseshoe Beach tos see what was being done there and also visited Mr. Wright'soffice: and was shown the thick stacks of paperwork for each property. He said that Savinacious has been ai tremendous help downi inl Horseshoe Beach. Emergency Meeting Disaster Recovery Relief 12061 Minutes October 28, 2024- 4:00 PM- Page 1of6 Attorney Watson stated that allt thej paperwork must be done within 180 days ofa declared disaster, with no extensions. Shes saids she has al list ofallowable reimbursement items andt thati ita appears that everything they are asking fori ist totally reimbursable by thel Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and as long as they stay withint that list there is no charge tot the County. She also addedt that we must bei int thel Nationall Flood] Insurance) Program andi ifnot, active we can be suspended. She said this Commissioner Hatch suggested that Savinacious be hiredt tol handle the grant work that the Emergency Jaison Benoit of Savinacious stated after a disaster the County can apply for the HMGP (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program). Hes said they opened the Idalia program in] March and! had forty homes qualify as substantially damaged. He addedt that this program ties inx with thel Disaster Recovery Reform Act Section 12061 ini implementing FEMA required steps and gives ane early start on obtaining data with Mr.] Benoit statedt that the "1206" program qualifies properties not people. Someone can bei in the Mr. Benoit stated that thej properties ont the list ofhomes with substantial damage from Hurricane Idalia and nowl have been destroyed by Helene are going to be expedited because of previously being listed as damaged. He alsos said that the State of Floriday previously offered two options for mitigation, whichy were thee elevation program or acquisition tot the County or Town. Ifthe County or Town acquires the property itwould bec considered greens space and not insurable or buildable. The State is currently working ona third option for those homes that were ont the substantially damaged list and now are completely gone and Mr. Benoit statedt that the clocki ist ticking for items the County can submit for and there would normally bec one-hundred eighty days for submission, but their company would try tos submit within ninety days. Mr. Benoiti informed thel Board that the HMGP formula is based on the disaster declaration of full damage Commissioner. Hatch asked who would dot the damage assessments ift the Board hires Savinacious. Mr. Benoit said they would dot them. Commissioner Hatchs said that he doesn't want the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to do these but wants. Savinacious tol handle everything and wants tol bring Clerk ofC Court Barbiel Higginbotham stated that it isl heartbreaking to see all the coastal areas in the shape they arei in, and she desires for them to ber restored, but askedi ifhiring Savinacious couldi mess up appears tol bea a valuable program. Operations Center (EOC)i is currently handling. whicht to apply fort thel HMGP. program ands sell their home, and the new owner could still be eligible. this option could ber released as early as next week. andi isr normally around eight (8), perçent oft the full damage oft the entity. 's items tot the Board. anything already started by thel EOC. Commissioner Hatch said they haven'tr really started yet. Mr. Wright said thatt there are not many that have been done since being confronted with not doing other types ofi inspections and permits and after that, because ofthe workload, he stopped doingt them. Mr. Benoit said everything with Horseshoe Parks and Shired Island will fall under Idalia which thel EOC completed, and FEMAI hasn't been downt to our area yet for Hurricane Helene. Emergency Meeting Disaster Recovery Relief 1206 Minutes October 28, 2024- 4:00 PM- Page 2of6 Commissioner Osteen asked! how close the forty properties ont the list for substantial damage from Mr. Benoit answered that originally, they were due tos start receiving funding in the first quarter oft the next year (2025), but Hurricane Helene changed that. He said there are only sixteen oft the forty homes that were listed still standing after Hurricane Helene, but he reiterated that all forty are eligible to receive funding, event the ones that are nol longers standing. He said this is why the State is revamping the rules to helpt thesep people. Mr. Benoita also stated that his company works with the clients/homeowners tol help them! know the best options for them and the best wayst toj proceed with getting help and the quicker they Commissioner Storey asked ifal home was knocked offt the foundation and had damage int the first storm and now int the second storm itis damaged again, will this program helpt them raise the home to elevation and repair thel home. Mr. Benoit answered ift the home is more than fifty percent damaged it must be Commissioner Osteen asked ifthis isaf fully funded program for the client and how much the client is Mr. Benoit answered that hel had! heardt thati it will be fully funded, but itj just depends on the State. Itis currently a "Pilot" program for Horseshoe Beach, and hei is nots sure ifit's going to be available for the entire county. Hes said that atar minimum the county willl be eligible for the HMGP for Hurricane Helene Commissioner Osteen asked what stipulations are placed on the homeowner ift they are. in this program. Mr. Benoits stated there isas stipulation that once the project is complete, iti must be elevated, built to code, and att the time thel keys are givent the home must bei insured. He saids some states require that the homeowner keep the insurance for a certain amount oft time, but he hasn'tever heard ofite exceeding more than three (3)years. He also added thati ifthe person dropped the insurance before the allotted time, Hurricane Idalia are to receiving funding. can get out there and sharet this information the better it will bei for the clients. elevated. responsible for paying. but may be available for the Fast track as well. would they then become ineligible fora any future grants. Emergency Contract: Itwas discussed hiring Savinacious for an emergency contract, which Mr. Benoit explained would allow his company to come in and handle all the disaster relief granti items for up to ninety days, and whilei in the emergency ninety-day contract with Savinacious the County would proceed with procurement for The motion was made by Commissioner Stephenson tol hire. Savinacious under the Emergency Contract for grant services for ninety days andi to begin! procurement) for disaster relief grants services once the ninety-day emergency contract is completed. Seconded by Commissioner. Hatch. Board Commissioner Hatch stated he wants to resend his first motion tol hire Savinacious and wants to implementt the ninety-day emergency contract with Savinacious att this time and start normal whent the ninety days is complete, andi iti ist time tol hire full-time help. approved. procurement as soon as possible. Emergency Meeting Disaster Recovery Relief 1206 Minutes October 28, 2024- 4:00 PM- Page 3of6 Administrative Assistant/County Grant Coordinator Martha McCaskill askédi ifthe County could use the previous application submitted by Mr. Benoit for Hurricane Idalia for the Hurricane Helene application. Mr. Benoit said it would have tol be a new application and advertisement because iti isar new disaster. Commissioner Hatcha asked! howt the transition would work from the EOC tol Mr. Benoit's company. Mr. Benoit saidt they will meet with the EOC and work with them to get everything transitioned and Commissioner Osteen said he wouldl liker nos stumbling blocks and the Boardt tol be updated. JDI Nobles of Horseshoe Beach" Town Council stated that ift the County sees any potential storm-related damage within the County toi inform Mr. Benoita and his company andt they will take care ofit. Commissioner Hatchs suggested that ifthere is any identified damage toj please discuss this with everyone and presenti ideas onl how tor resolve it. He also mentioned the road inf front of the Condo'sas fara as putting upa as seawall and redoing the road, and said this would be aj perfect Hazard Mitigation Grant Mrs. McCaskill spoke regarding the need fora a survey on the road near the Condo's before starting with communicate with Assistant County Manager John. Jenkins. Program (HMGP) project. repairs ont the road and seawall and askedi ifthe County wants a survey done. Commissioner Hatch said tol have ite evaluated first andt then survey ifr needed. Commissioner Storey asked how doest the County get paid using this program? Mr. Benoit statedt the public assistance is five(5) percent of reimbursed storm damage money.. He added that FEMA pays this five (5)percent and the county doesn'thave toj pay any thing for Savinacious JDI Nobles recommended having workshops to educate property owners int thej process ofa applying for service. these programs. Commissioner Stephenson recommended havingt town meetings. Mr. Wright stated that once people see others getting their houses replaced and repaired, they will find out Commissioner Hatch asked! how the Request for Public. Assistance (RPA) is handled with their company. Mrs. McCaskill: askedi ifthe County can use the same application previously submitted by Savinacious for the new advertisement application for Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Consultant. The motion to begin advertising for disaster relief grant services for after the Emergency Contract with Savinacious is completed made by Commissioner Hatch. Seconded! by Commissioner Stephenson. how to dot theirs. Mr. Benoit said they would first find out ifitl has been submitted. Board approved. Campers: Emergency Meeling Disaster Recovery Relief 12061 Minutes October 28, 2024 4:00 PM- Page 4of6 Commissioner Storey asked how many campers the County l'as. Attorney Watson said she has seventeen on the ground right now and shei isi in thej process of getting them Commissioner Hatchr requested ordering ten (10): more in hopes ofg giving them to qualifying renters who Attorney Watson stated the County cani include renters ifthey SO desire, but she recommended placing The Motion to provide a FEMA camper to a renter applicant ift they are a Dixie County resident, were renting in Dixie County prior to Hurricane Helene, have a place 1oA put the camper and also have no home tol live in elsewhere was made by Commissioner Hatch. Seconded by Commissioner Osteen. Attorney Watson stated there ares seven (7) people waiting for campers att this time and they have out tot thosei ini need. lost their homes int thes storm. guidelines. She also requested official directions one eligibility. Board approved. Commissioner Stephenson asked! how many people are waiting for campers. Commissioner Hatch recommended ordering ten (10)r more campers. requested ten (10)r more. Interviews: Commissioner Storey asked whent thel Boardwould liket to conduct County Manager interviews. Itv was recommended by the Board to schedule them for November 06, 2024, starting at 9:00 AM: and going all day asi needed. Emergency Meeting Disaster Recovery Relief 1206 Minutes October 28, 2024- 4:00 PM- Page 5of6 4. ADJOURN approved. The motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Osteen. Seconded by Commissioner. Hatch. Board BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DIXIE COUNTY,FLORIDA ona Ky Jamie Storey, Chairman ACUIT ybass Meabebaw Barbiel Higginbotham, Clerk Auditor OUNTY, PLEASE BE ADVISED that ifap person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered ats such meeting or hearings, he/s she will needa a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, he/s she will needi to ensuret that ai verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which recordi includes the "Persons with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations. to participate int this proceeding should contact The Board meets thej first Thursday ofe each month at 10:004 AM and thei third Thursday ofe eack month at 6:00 PM. Individuals that would liket to bep placed on the agenda should call Barbie Higginbotham, Clerk ofCourt, by testimony ande evidence upon which the appeali is to bel based. (352) 486-4931 (Voice & TDD) or via Florida Relay Service at (800) 955-8771." 4:00 PM on the Friday Preceding the Board meeting, at( (352) 498-1200. Emergency Meeting Disaster Recovery Relief 1206 Minutes October 28,2024- 4:00 PM- Page 6of6