County Creates Disaster Fund After Flood

A new disaster fund has been created for Antelope County, and commissioners will hold a hearing next week to amend the budget for up to $4 million for repairs related to last month’s flood.

“We’re not asking taxpayers for more money,” County Treasurer Deb Branstiter told commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting at the courthouse.

“It’s giving us authority to move that money from the inheritance (fund) into this new fund and spend it if we need it.”

Commissioners will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 9, at 10 a.m. in the county meeting room of the courthouse for the purpose of hearing support, opposition, criticism, suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to amending the budget.

According to the public notice, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, actual expenditures for the current fiscal year will exceed budgeted expenditures unless the current fiscal year budget of expenditures is revised.”
Branstitter and Clerk Lisa Payne said Nebraska assistant deputy auditor Deann Haeffner suggested the county create an account specifically for the flood to not only keep the expenses separate, but also for long term transparency.
“I, like Deb, believe that is the most friendly way to do this and keep everybody on the same page,” Payne said. “You can transfer money from the inheritance (fund) and start with a base of $2 million, if we want or even $1.5 (million) if that’s all the expenses we’re going to have.”
Branstiter said Antelope County is lucky because it has $3,378,000 in its inheritance fund, “which gives us the cash flow.” She said the new disaster account can state that it’s a loan from the inheritance fund.
“As you can see, it’s a good idea not to spend down your inheritance in case of emergencies,” Branstiter said. “It’s been wonderful that we have that $3 million sitting there, otherwise we would have been in trouble.”
She said just because the disaster account is advertised at $4 million doesn’t mean that’s what will be spent nor does it mean $4 million will be transferred from the inheritance fund.
“For budget purposes to fund it, we’re going to have $2 million from inheritance, which is a fund transfer (on loan) and $2 million other government funds, which will be a FEMA payment also. Nothing is guaranteed we’ll get a FEMA payment, but we worked really hard so far to get that FEMA payment. I know we have some great people working with us to get that done.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners voted to create the fund and transfer $2 million as a loan; however, no expenditures can come from the county prior to the public hearing next week.
Road Superintendent Casey Dittrich told commissioners he has $810,000 in bills related to the flood as of April 1, which is 75 to 80 percent of the large expenses. He and engineer Brian McDonald have estimated another $1.83 million on eight structures with $400,000 of that cost shared with Knox County.
Commissioner Charlie Henery asked what happens if there isn’t enough money in the inheritance fund to cover the costs, especially considering FEMA funds would take 18 months or even years to receive. Branstiter said the county could register warrants, or IOUs, although that’s not recommended.
Dittrich said if the county needs more money for repairs than available in the inheritance fund, he suggested using the road and bridge budget, which has $2 million, to assist. He said other bridges will go out and funds will be needed for those, but he has other avenues to assist with a shortfall.
Henery disagreed and said the county must remember that other roads need repaired besides from the flood.
“Our normal life has to go on no matter this, so we have to have money for that, too,” he said. “With your road and bridge (fund) having $2 million in it, we were going to use that up trying to get these oiled roads back in place. I don’t think we can even consider that $2 million is there because we already had a plan for it anyway.”
Payne said the county could levy for the disaster fund down the road if necessary.
Dean Smith made the motion to create the new disaster fund with Henery seconding. It was unanimously approved 5-0. Smith made the motion to loan $2 million from the inheritance fund to the disaster fund with Allan Bentley seconding. It was unanimously approved 5-0.
Dittrich detailed eight bridge projects in the county that will require engineer assistance. He reminded commissioners that other bridge and road repairs exist. The top priority for the county, Dittrich said, is the bridge north of Orchard, which is highly traveled. Estimated at $150,000, plans are nearly complete and ready to submit to contractors for quotes.
There are several bridges north of Royal near Ashfall Fossil Beds and on the Knox County Line, along with bridges near Oakdale on his list.