The General Operations committee approved agenda items to pursue acquisition and demolition of selected properties in Cottontown identified as flood-prone and structurally dilapidated.

Staff described a targeted acquisition for a house located on the creek bank that they said had been vacant and in poor condition for years. Committee materials listed acquisition and demolition line items and an overall construction/allocation figure cited during the discussion as $100,000 for acquisition and demolition; staff also referenced a $60,000 acquisition offer for one property and additional cleanup costs.

A staff member reminded commissioners that pursuing a FEMA buyout requires proof of repeated flooding (typically three floods within a 10‑year period) and that FEMA’s formula and the local match can affect the county’s final outlay. The committee discussed that total costs for demolition and acquisition could exceed the budgeted amount depending on grant eligibility, demolition costs and whether additional state assistance is secured.

Commissioners moved and seconded approval of items B and C on the agenda related to the acquisition and demolition program; the motion passed. Staff said property acquisition will proceed only upon confirmed owner requests or where acquisition authority applies, and that more detailed project scopes and cost breakdowns will be returned to the committee for follow-up.

The committee did not adopt a full long-term funding package at the meeting; it approved the targeted items to begin acquisition/demolition activities and directed staff to pursue funding sources including FEMA and state programs where eligible.