FEMA forks over $3 million
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Nick Stamenkovich/Gulf Breeze News City officials estimate they could receive up to $150,000 of the approximately $3.3 million in FEMA reimbursement money for Hurricane Ivan repairs. City Manager Edwin 'Buz' Eddy said grants paid for many of the city's completed and ongoing sewer and storm water projects while separate budget funds went toward the restoration of the city's parks.

Nearly two years after Hurricane Ivan swept through the Gulf Coast, Santa Rosa County government officials are still working to repair the county's infrastructure and were relieved to learn they will receive over $3 million unexpectedly from the federal government. Details are limited at this point and county officials are unsure of how much of that funding would trickle down to the City of Gulf Breeze.

On June 4, U.S. Senator Mel Martinez released a statement on his website detailing $386 million for hurricane assistance for projects related to the 2005 storm season. The funding is coming to Florida from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

When asked how the funding would affect the county's ongoing recovery process, County Commissioner Gordon Goodin replied: "I'm not certain this reimbursement affects the County's recovery process, as much as it reimburses funds that have already been expended over the last two years. It may help us avoid borrowing funds for any recovery that may become necessary in the short term, or until our reserves can be replenished."

County Administrator Hunter Walker said the county did not incur any debt related to storm recovery, but instead used the county's reserves, or general savings, to complete short term recovery projects immediately after the events. Walker added that the new funds would help pay the county's share for storm water recovery projects at Greenbrier Estates, Ganges Trail, Madura Road, Ramblewood Drive, Sabertooth Drive, Harrison Avenue, and ultimately the Holley-by-the-Sea subdivision.

"There will be no direct impact on County budget in that these are non-recurring funds and should not be used to fund recurring expenses in operating budget," Walker wrote in an email. "This $3.3 million will essentially mean that the County will have relatively low out-of-pocket expenses. The only out-ofpocket will primarily be ineligible debris collection which is collection of debris on private roadways as authorized by the Board."

Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin 'Buz' Eddy said there were not enough details available at this time to determine how much of that funding the city would receive. Eddy said the city incurred approximately $5 million in debt for storm recovery. The official said a good portion of that was spent on rebuilding the city's parks, as a $1 million grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District went toward storm water improvements. According to Assistant City Manager Dave Szymanski, the city was reimbursed for a majority of its Hurricane Dennis repair funding. Out of the total repair cost of $993,710 for that hurricane, the city received $868,710 from FEMA and the state government. That leaves the city with close to $125,000 outstanding for Dennis, Szymanski said. The assistant city manager also added that Hurricane Ivan cost the city more than a total of $10 million, approximately $8.6 of which has been reimbursed. Similar figures from the county's budget office indicate Santa Rosa County officials spent over $58 million for Hurricane Ivan, over $53 million of which they expect back from FEMA. The same figures indicate County officials spent over $24,749,579 for Hurricane Dennis and expect over $30 million from FEMA. County budget staff members also pointed out that these costs figures are to date and not all county recovery projects have been completed and paid for.

"We could always do more storm water improvements, but our priority right now is bringing down the debt the city incurred for recovery," Eddy said.

Santa Rosa County will receive a total of $8,965,370.26. The funding will be distributed to multiple agencies including an estimated $3.3 million reimbursement to the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners. The reminder of the refund will benefit the county school board, the municipalities and state for FEMA expenses.

While some have labeled the funding as a windfall, Eddy said the term paints an inaccurate picture.

"I think sometimes the term windfall makes people think we're lighting cigarettes with $100 bills and that's not the case," Eddy said, estimating the city would probably receive close to $150,000 of the $3 million.

"That doesn't go very far against a debt of $5 million, but we wouldn't look that gift horse in the mouth," Eddy said.