Emergency Management
BJ Kohlstedt, Director
www.co.lake.mn.us
99 Edison Boulevard
Silver Bay, MN 55614
Office: 218.226.4444
Cell: 218.220.7811
Fax: 218.226.3916
[email protected]
June 3, 2014
Dear metal roof grant applicant,
We recently heard from FEMA that our Metal Roof Grant application, in which you are a listed participant,
has passed the federal and state Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) review. It was more
complicated than expected because ours is an unprecedented project including multiple properties. We
had already passed the required eligibility and benefit cost reviews, so this is the milestone that we’ve
been waiting for.
The state HSEM tells us that, barring unforeseen circumstances, our project should be awarded within a
month. At that time agreements must be approved and signed by the Lake County Board, which can take
another few weeks, and then FEMA can obligate funds and return the contracts. ONLY THEN can we start
any payable work.
It is imperative that you DO NOT START ANY WORK on your roofing project before we receive official
approval of the project award. FEMA will not reimburse any work done before all agreements are signed.
In the next couple of weeks, you will receive more information regarding the status and specifications of
the grant so you can start considering estimates for work. Until then, we do not have all the details to
provide contractors with the information they need to give accurate estimates.
It’s important to know that the requirements for federal grants are specific and documentation is lengthy.
The goal of the project is to protect private structures from wildfire, which entails high quality fireresistant roofing system materials, installation by a licensed contractor, thorough inspection, and proper
disposal of removed materials. In addition, defensible space must be created around your structure. This
must also be inspected and maintained for 30 years. After you look at the specifications and receive
estimates from contractors, you can then better determine whether or not to participate in the project.
Updates will be sent to you when we get them, and also posted on the Lake County website, under the
Emergency Management Department link.
This has been a long wait, and it isn’t over yet, but this is good news for reducing our wildfire risk, and we
look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
BJ Kohlstedt
Lake County Emergency Management