SILVERHILL, Alabama — Silverhill Mayor Jared Lyles said nearly 10 months after Hurricane Sally, the town is close to finishing the reimbursement process with FEMA.
“We’re pretty much to the point where we are waiting for a check,” Lyles said following the Silverhill Town Council meeting on Tuesday, July 6.
Lyles said the town has finished with the application process and has essentially been approved for everything they requested as far as debris removal.
“The only thing we’re still working on is reimbursement for some minor damage to the library,” he said.
Silverhill Town Clerk Nikki Haigler said the town will receive a total of $463,718.21 for debris removal.
In the months following the storm, FEMA agreed to reimburse municipalities about 75 percent of the total cost. Another 15 percent will be reimbursed by the state of Alabama, leaving municipalities to cover the remaining 10 percent.
“Once everything goes through, we should be expecting payment within 30 days,” Lyles said.
At the July 6 meeting, Lyles told council members that he is putting together a “Request for Proposals” for debris removal and monitoring services in the event of future storm damage.
Lyles said he is also requesting alternate proposals for monitoring services, asking if a cost could be included in the proposal for assisting with the application process with FEMA.
In other business July 6, the council agreed to renew its contract with Mosquito Control Services, Lyles said.
“We had attempted to seek other companies to give us an estimate for mosquito spraying in town, but received no response,” Lyles said. A contract will need to be drawn up and presented for approval at the next council meeting.
The council also approved a contract with Ultimate Tree Service for $6,900 to remove an oak tree at the corner of Alabama 104 and Fourth Street after a large limb fell on some fencing and caused other damage.
“The tree is dead and is posing further hazard if it were to remain in that location,” Lyles said, “so we’re going to have to take it down.”
Because of the position of the tree, Lyles said, a large crane will have to be used to take it down, which accounts for the extra expense.
