Lyon County commissioners on Thursday authorized the filing of an appeal with FEMA for a grant aimed at relocating Fanestil Meats out of a flood plain.
The issue was moved to the forefront when FEMA not only denied an extension on the grant, but canceled the grant altogether. The news was discussed during last week’s Lyon County Commission action session.
The original contract with FEMA was for $1.6 million to help Owners Dan and Jan Smoots relocate and get out of the flood plain. FEMA required the money to be issued through the county. The requirements were to turn the area the plant stands on, which is near the Cottonwood River, back to green space by late August 2011.
During last week’s commission meeting, Fanestil owner, Dan Smoots, encouraged commissioners to start the appeal process as soon as possible.
“I’ve already moved on to the point of believing the that appeal process if the next logical step,” he said last week. “I’ve been in touch with Sen. Moran’s office and their office is 100 percent in support and have started working with us to help the appeal process go through. I think it’s very, very important that we move as quickly as possible.”
On Thursday, commissioners took action on the issue, voting unanimously to file an appeal.
For more on this story, including commissioner comments, please see Friday's Gazette.