I thought it would be, but it took a few years of arguing back and forth. Of that, $117 million has been reimbursed to the county at this point. Nearly $68 million remains in various stages of FEMA approval. And of that, about 50 million is in the very final stages of review, so it's on the cusp of being reimbursed to us. So the near obligation, there's three major projects there are food, which is pending large project notification, and that's when it goes to our congressional delegation to notify them that one of their districts will be getting funding from FEMA. That's 17.5 million, and I'm just rounding numbers here. That is normally the last step however FEMA has added a manual review obligation step into its process. This is completely new to us so we don't really know exactly how long it's going to take. After all of the automated processes are done and every single one of the probably 17 steps are done. Now some of manually goes through it as a last step to make sure that it's in line with executive orders and other such directives that they have. We've been told by FEMA they expect that to take less than 30 days. So it's not dramatically impactful but we have yet to see because there's no precedent for this. Our second project there is operating expenses in PPE for about 26.4 million. FEMA is short staffed at the steps that they're at, which is at the Environmental and Historical Preservation Review. So their published target for this is 14 days. However, it's been with them since January 16th. So we are seeing delays, not necessarily delays and them issuing the payment, but just the process itself is taking significantly longer at some of the steps. And then our third project is more operating expenses than PPE just for a different time period. That's for nearly $6 million. That project is in quality assurance review, which is the final review after the Consolidate Resource Center review, which is really the last step of the review. But then it has to go back, like I said, through that manual obligation. Two projects are in determination memo in the appeal process, so we get to turn a determination memo once a project has been decided upon. The determination memo either says you've been funded completely for what you've asked for, you haven't been funded entirely for what you've asked for, or there's some split there. And it gives us some explanation. We appeal each one of those so right now there would probably be small amount. $38,000 for personnel support costs is being appealed and then our school health personnel they denied $1.4 million and over time cost of the $3.1 million that we submitted so we are appealing that as well. And then there's one final project that's going through project development and that's because FEMA's requested some additional contract documents. And that is for our non-congregate sheltering, which is a complicated, almost as complicated as food was, just because it's differentiated between congregate versus non-congregate sheltering. So they've asked for a lot more supporting documentation than we normally give. That's the remaining $14 million that brings you up to that $68 million. So some developments for you. We are always working very closely with FEMA, not only our project team, but also leadership has been engaged at this point at the region three and the headquarters level. We're also working with our congressional delegation who have been able to cut through some of the roadblocks that we've hit. We remain in uncertain and volatile times with FEMA and these processes where FEMA does not always know exactly what's going on, that they're subject to the same rumor mill that we are hearing. FEMA has put a pause on obligating funds, including all grants, that includes public assistance. We have not seen that impact our process. So as I said, there's the 17 steps in the process. We have not seen that slow down the process at all. There's been no pause at any one of those processes. Our consultant has advised because they have over over many many jurisdictions that since the administration has taken office they have continued to see other jurisdictions receive applications. So as far as work and service business as usual may be a little bit slower but that's what we're seeing elsewhere in the country. They have added several steps like like I said, so the process does take a little bit longer. And the manual review, like I said, it is promised to take less than 30 days, but they're really under no obligation to honor their promise to us, but that's where we're at. So that's pretty much where we're at at this point. I know that's a long answer to your question, but I do want to give you guys a snapshot of the entirety of where we're at right now. And why it's important for us to continue to chase these funds because we are right on the cusp of getting a significant amount of money at this point. That was a terrific summary. I very much appreciate you walking through that. And I know you answer all my questions that I had prepared today by walking through that Overview I'll just see if my colleagues anything. Yeah councilmember Leukee Sure So up the there were there's two hundred and eighteen million total that you submitted for were 117s already been paid, 185 were approved, 68 remains. That means there was 33 that was deemed not eligible for reimbursement. Do we know what those were? Like, did they fit into one or more buckets? Yeah, most of them, mostly most of them were food provisions. Okay. Where the county could not prove because because we do have a, we lean forward into our social services, and we should very, good job, I think we're all very proud of that. They could not prove that it was attributable only to COVID that we were providing. Okay, okay. And they had a very salient point there. That we tried, but nonetheless, they could prove that we were making those expenses prior to COVID as well. Gotcha. And then in terms of the FEMA funds are that are any of those coming through the Department of Homeland Security that goes sort of over to FEMA then FEMA to MDEM to you. So they all come through the Department of Homeland Security. Right and so. And so. And so. And so. And so. And so. And so.. And my next question. Which I may not know the answer to. OK. Department of Homeland Security notified the state that they are auditing their grants to the state and they were freezing it. Right. Right. And I know that, of course, that M.D.M. about 85% of the folks who work with this. Eight, seven percent. Yeah. Are paid for their salaries, they're trying to make payroll for the state right now while Homeland Security is frozen, all of Maryland's grants is a huge challenge. And of course, then that affects. Yes, but I was going to say that. So that's what I wanted you to do. Yes, so what's the, have you heard when the anticipated unfreezing may occur? I mean, respecting that we are in some really weird times. And how is that impacting? Again, you mentioned like borrowing from the security grant thing in order to, because you've got to work within the confines of how our money is structured inside each department within each agency. How is this affecting you and the folks who are working under you at OEMHS? So separate and apart from this? Yeah, separate and apart from this. We're in the same bucket. Those preparedness grants that fund the 87% of folks at MDM. Sorry, I didn't mean to discount those two. No, no, no, no, no my number wrong. Significant portion. Yeah, yeah. I say that because we are not in dire straits to that level. Nonetheless, we have 21 full time employees, 10 of whom are still grant funded. What you will see in our budget request coming this year is that we are requesting that several come off of that is grant funds because The work we do in my opinion, I think it would be a opinion of the council and the executive is a little too important to be on the shaking ground at this point so We're trying to look forward We just saw that the continued resolution yesterday that was released does fund those preparedness grants at the same 2024 levels, which again, were a 10% cut already. So we were hoping they'd be restored this year. But again, that's assuming that the continuing resolution even makes it. Right. Especially as it is. So we will feel the same pain because all of those same grants that they are sourcing from at the state level eventually make it to us. Now there are two main sources that we get our funds from. One is the state and one is DC. DC does things a little bit differently where they front load all of the money into their budget and they are usually, they're pretty lucrative in the cash flows that they have. They have assured us that they will be able to honor all of our grant funds that have been issued so far. So there would be no risk of rescinding those. No claw back of anything that's already been over. The state obviously is in a little bit of a different situation and they have not said they would claw anything back to be clear. But they haven't openly said we're going to be able to obligate everything that you all are anticipating in the next few fist leaders that have already been issued. Right. Okay. I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask those questions. I appreciate it because we've had a robust discussion about the overall functionality and how money comes in, goes out and moves and why we have to come here and do these things repeatedly, because that's the mechanism by which it works. But that- And it will be interesting. We're under a lot of stress. You're under a lot of stress. And Council Member, to be fair, we'll be interesting to see, because I say unprecedented, but every time one of these things is unprecedented. Yeah, yeah.. I know. Next time has some nuance that makes it a little bit more unprecedented. Yeah. So this pause is on preparedness grants, which fund, again, those 87% of people and then, you know, nearly half of the people in OEMHS. Yeah. It'll be interesting to see how it affects this public assistance grant because that's always been subject to audit. But in theory, the audit they're doing for this is much different than what they're doing for the preparedness grants. Whereas the preparedness grants are pushed through as an allocation to states and then you submit an S-of-justification. So you already have the money in hand. It's not an application. It's, there's calculus that goes behind exactly how much. And then later it's audited. This front loads what in theory is the audit with those 17 approval steps. Right, right, right. We're trying to avoid, and that's where you notice, well, they notice food, for instance. Right, right. Well, if you did it in a preparedness grant, they wouldn't notice that food for years later, and then we'd have to de-obligate, in other words, reimburse them for those funds. So we're hopeful that it... food for instance. Right. Well, if you did it in a preparedness grant, they wouldn't notice that food for years later and then we'd have to de-obligate, in other words, reimburse them for those funds. So we're hopeful that it doesn't impact this funding, which is significant. We certainly want this to keep flowing. But it does introduce the uncertainty of when the money flows into the state, when they are in relatively dire straits. And Secretary Strickland has been very honest with us about this. When they get any money flowing from FEMA and DHS to them, in order for them to make payroll, well, they need to pull from that prior to obligated to us. Where they go, correct. And my inclination would be, that's probably what they should be doing, to stabilize the emergency management that we all rely on. Yeah, I mean, if you were in Russ's position, you would do that. And even in my position knowing how much we rely on the state, I support that with the hope that eventually it gets straight out. Yeah, all right. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. All right, not seeing any other questions. We will, the joint committees will recommend this to the full council without objection. Thank you very much. And really thank you for all that information. And keep us, please keep us in the loop on this. Thank you. Thank you. I have a feeling we'll see in between the five years. Just a prediction. I'm sorry. All right. The next two items, I believe we can, and thank you, Ms. Cum Cummings for your work on this. We take together one is the resolution to approve amendment to the FY 25-30 capital improvements program and supplemental appropriation 25-51 to the FY 25 capital budget Montgomery County government Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, the Dickerson Radio Tower. for the amount of $1.8 million in go bonds and the related item to this is the FY26 Capital Budget Amendments, the FY25-30CIP police. I'll turn it over. We have both Miss Frog and Dr. Teres with us this morning. And I don't know who's going first, but I'll turn to Miss to miss frog them. Great good morning everyone. The Dickerson radio tower is currently on private property on top of a smoke stack and there's a shelter the tower shelters built next to it. The owner of that private property is indicated that they want the tower removed and you talked about this in much more length last year but what's happened since then is that the lease has expired on the current private property and the county has moved month to month. They have found a new location for the Dickerson radio tower, which is on county property, up off of Ash Road. So the supplemental, the recommended supplemental appropriation adds $1.8 million to the project in this year, FY25. And the reason for that is to now move that tower and the existing shelter up to county property. Because of the expedited need to move it quickly, I believe they have 18 months to do so, according to the private property owner. And the fact that there's a lot of market volatility and the cost of materials and that thing, the total cost now is going to be 3.8 million for the project. The supplemental appropriation and the amendment to the project just reflect the additional expenditures in FY25. My question's concerned whether or not the month to month lease would be sufficient in case there needed to be. Move it more quickly based on on what the property owner wants. However, this 12-tower architecture for the public safety radio system is self-healing and they can use other towers in the case of an emergency. Fire and police also have sufficient backfill, I guess you could say, with different types of radios and their mobile computers and Geriatcoc can talk more about that if necessary. But so those were my two concerns was the month to month lease whether or not sufficient and the need to use other architecture if this tower fails. Those seem to be in place, those back up seem to be in place and I'm recommending approval submitted by the executive. Great. That's a trick is you have anything to add at this point. All right. Then we'll turn it over to the tabs and if you have anything to add to what Miss Roxette. All right. Do you do you want to address any of the concerns she's raised or? Well, I'm like an upholone the manager of the public safety group and I think Susan covered all the elements very well We have been asked to move off the Dickerson smoke stack as quickly as possible I have spoken to DGS David Dies and his staff They do not see any issue with us continuing a month a month during their communications with a new owner. But they do one of those all that's in the June time frame of 2026 calendar year. So we are having a baby in six months here. So we're a good way to say it. To cover that, as Susan mentioned and Jerry can go in a deeper dive if we wanted to We have NCR resources that we can bring to the site There are sell your or you know sell your towers that we can erect it won't give us a full capability of a brand new tower But it gives us enough capability in that area to cover any type of voice communications that happen. So we're using a existing contract with a proof in Bender. They delivered numerous towers in the county before. This is basically an exercise of constructing a new tower at a different site. And again, the increase in costs are really a different set of assumptions from the original calls to estimate and so that's where we're at so. Great, terrific. Anything from OMB? James McNamara OMB and no we fully support tabs on this. And I coach Eric Caz. Thank you. The only question I have is in Jerry is sitting here and but but the news spot when you finally get to the news but will there be dead spots with that do you have to be concerned about any of that. Jerry had kind of a tips. No, it will not be having a dead spot issue because the we're not moving it that far from the current smoke stack. So it's really just relocating a little bit. In fact, they said with the microwaves, which is our back haul antenna system, we'll have no issues with that in reocquiring signals once they put it back up on the air. Thank you, and thank you all very much for what you do. Any other questions? No, not seeing any. Then we will recommend to the full council without objection, the resolution to approve the amendment and the amendment to the capital improvement budget. Thank you very much. All right, thank you for coming. Thank you, gentlemen. Those are all the items we have on our joint committee session today, so we are adjourned. Thank you.