Scott County to seek disaster relief grant

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County will join other area counties and cities affected by spring flooding in seeking a share of disaster relief grant funding.

The Scott County Commission held the required public hearing for a flood recovery Community Development Block Grant application during its regular meeting Tuesday.

If approved, the grant will pass federal funding through the Missouri Department of Economic Development to the county to cover the 25 percent of disaster recovery costs not reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Scott County has submitted paperwork on projects with a combined total of $662,841, of which FEMA will reimburse $497,131.

The county is applying for $165,710 in CDBG assistance which, if approved, would take care of the county's 15 percent local cost share as well as the 10 percent usually paid by the State Emergency Management Agency for declared disasters.

"We've been receiving some funds back," Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger said of FEMA's 75 percent.

Of that, "$124,980 is what we've received so far," said Rita Milam, county clerk.

"SEMA doesn't pay that until it's completely paid out at the federal level," Burger said. "We just got our check this year from SEMA for the January 2009 ice storm."

The flood recovery CDBG is a competitive grant with only cities and counties included in the disaster declaration for the spring flooding eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is Thursday.

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO