Emergency disaster response discussed

SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Several groups have come before the Marshall County Board of Supervisors seeking a contract for debris removal that fell from trees during the recent Jan. 31, ice storm.

Sean Hunt, with Looks Great Services, said his company will work with the county to try to help the county qualify for an emergency declaration. His company helped the county with debris removal following the Dec. 15, 2015, tornado that swept through the county.

“You could turn this into a revenue stream because of the landfill,” he told supervisors. “You have about 50,000 yards in the county.”

If the state qualifies for Federal Emergency Management Agency relief, three-fourths of the cost of debris removal will be paid by FEMA and one-fourth will be paid by MEMA (Mississippi Emergency Management Agency).

He said the county stood to recover about $225,000 in tipping fees.

District 1 supervisor Charles Terry explained the county no longer has a landfill.

“The rubbish pit has been closed,” said zoning administrator Ken Jones.

District 5 supervisor Ronnie Joe Bennett said the county does not expect to have that much debris to remove.

“A good part of that would be reimbursement to the utilities,” Hunt said. “Damage assessments are taking place now. And it goes to the state and if it meets the federal threshold, it would be tied in.”

Hunt said FEMA uses a formula of $20 a yard multiplied by the estimated yards of debris.

“The state has to reach a threshold of $5.2 million,” he said.

Bennett said Hunt wants to get ahead of any other providers even though no one knows if the state will meet the threshold.

Hunt said his company would do a pre-procurement agreement with the county before FEMA and MEMA make a declaration.

“So, a pre-positioned contract is very, very common all over the U.S. And coastal areas,” Hunt said. “I would be happy to help you write it, until there is a notice to proceed.”

Bennett asked if the county agreed to a preprocurement would the county be bound to give its business to Hunt if another company comes in and makes an offer.

“Pre-procurement puts you in line, but if we did do it, would we be in line to get FEMA approval?” asked District 4 supervisor George Zinn III.

“Alabama does this now,” Hunt said. “Because of COVID, FEMA allows you to enter any contract you wish and not follow the normal procurement procedures. I would recommend you start to do pre-procurement and make it a two to three year contract so you have potential for more renewals (if more emergencies come later).”

District 1 Supervisor Charles Terry said it may take MEMA 30 to 60 days to determine if a state threshold of $5.2 million will be met.

Hunt said the county could hire someone immediately and offer multiple contracts.

Bennett asked what the period of the contract would cover.

“I can’t see binding this board to you when I might want somebody who is living in the county to get the work,” Bennett said.

Board attorney Amanda Whaley Smith clarified the issue.

“You are talking about two different things, either the long-term or short-term,” she said.

“I would recommend whomever you choose has a Mississippi Contractor’s license,” Hunt said.

“I don’t want the county obligated before an emergency has been declared,” Terry said.

Hunt said, first of all, FEMA does not award the contract.

“It’s an open hole, it’s an emergency declaration,” said Hunt. The primary concern is would there be a Mississippi Contractor’s license?”

“I understand (you would charge) no fee, if we entered an agreement with you,” said Zinn. “And we may not get anything from the feds. We don’t pay you anything?”

“Not one dime,” said Hunt. “Y’all did a great job in 2015 on that cleanup,” Bennett said. Zinn made a motion to table the issue and it passed.