KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County commissioners may reallocate two leftover pots of money to prepare for future weather emergencies Tuesday evening.
As we reported last week, they plan to use $400,000 in unspent COVID-19 funding on the Continuum of Care’s efforts to provide winter emergency sheltering for the homeless.
They also could create an emergency weather fund with $27,000 in state funding that had been allocated to Texas Township for tornado cleanup of public facilities, but was never spent.
Texas Township Supervisor Joanne O’Rourke had asked that it be reallocated to help homeowners there.
Commissioner Abigail Wheeler supported the township’s request, but vice chair John Taylor did not.
Some commissioners didn’t think repairs to private homes was an appropriate use for tax dollars.
Board vice chair pro-tem Jeff Heppler says having ready access to dollars can make a big difference in an emergency, particularly in rural parts of the county.
Administrator Kevin Catlin has drawn up a plan to create such an emergency fund, but it may not pass. The board was evenly divided on the issue at their last meeting.
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