Franklin County says cities will have to do more for themselves after the next storm

County officials are asking the cities to shoulder more of the load when it comes to post-storm cleanup.

Franklin County Commissioners are asking that the cities find private companies to contract with for debris removal because the county can't continue to cover the costs of removing debris from Apalachicola and Carrabelle.

Commissioners are especially concerned if a larger storm hits our area because that would strain their manpower and resources.

The county does charge the cities a tipping fee when their debris is hauled to the landfill, but they don't usually send a bill for overtime or wear and tear on county machinery.

Commissioner Smokey Parrish pointed out that if a storm is big enough, county workers will have enough to do in the unincorporated areas of the county and may not even be able to help in the cities.

If the cities have contracts in place with private firms – the debris would still be removed and the cities could file for reimbursement by FEMA, just like the county does.

They would also have to cover their own losses if FEMA doesn't pay.

Emergency Management Director Pam Brownell said she will meet with both cities to address the issue further and help them through the process.

http://live.oysterradio.com/