For the second time in a month, the Marion County Board of Supervisors has declared a local emergency. This time it’s for the EF-4 tornado that ravaged parts of Sandy Hook, Hub and Pine Burr on April 19 and claimed a life.
In a special called meeting on Friday, the board moved forward with the declaration in hopes the county will receive federal and state funds to help with the massive cleanup caused by the tornado.
At the meeting Friday, Jeff Dungan, county engineer, and Aaron Greer, emergency management director, reported at least 120 homes were damaged, 20 destroyed, 20 with major damage, a fire station destroyed and at least 40,000 yards of debris piled up on the county’s rights-of-way.
Greer said if the county is approved, FEMA would pay 75%, MEMA 12.5% and the county would pay 12.5% of the costs.
Dungan also recommended to the board to publish two requests for proposals: one for a monitor of the clean-up and a second one for the clean-up. Dungan said if the requests are done now, come the first week in May when the board meets again, the decisions can be made, if the local emergency declaration is approved.
Greer also reported that in addition to the Southwest Marion Fire Station being destroyed on Hurricane Creek Road in Sandy Hook, one of the trucks was considered totaled due to its age. The second one, a $280,000 brand new one the department has had for only a few months, has a crack in the cab. The department is using a loaner truck while the new truck is being evaluated for any further damage and repairs. If the declaration is approved, the fire department will pay the rent on the loaner truck and be reimbursed.
Earlier this month on April 6, the board voted to declare a local emergency regarding the coronavirus in hopes to receive federal and state funds during the time the nation and state is shut down.
Also at the meeting that was held the first of the month, the board voted to switch the health insurance carrier for major health to Southern Insurance Group and the bridge/gap plan with Allstate Insurance, both of which are in Columbia. Supervisors Blue Green and John Moree voted for it, Supervisors Raymon “Tater” Rowell and Calvin Newsom voted against it and Board President Tony Morgan voted in favor of it, breaking the tie. Nick Floyd and Associates in Magee had both policies in the county previously.
Green said, “No. 1 it saved us money, and it also brings the money back into the county by staying local.”
“We are in the middle of a pandemic; I hated to see the change. Everything was going good,” Rowell said on why he voted against it.
Morgan said, “This is saving us money: about $30,000 for one policy and $20,000 for the other policy. It was a better deal, and it’s something we can deal with locally.”
Newsom and Moree could not be reached for comment.
In other action taken, the board approved the purchase of three new vehicles for the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The first purchase was for two 2020 Dodge Durangos from Pine Belt Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep and Ram for a total of $60,260. The second purchase was for a 2020 Ford F150 Pick Truck from Courtesy Ford in the amount of $42,995.84.
The board voted to finance the vehicles through BancorpSouth Bank in a lease purchase agreement. The terms of the deal are 2.79% interest for three years with semi-annual payments of $17,721.37.
