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ADMINISTRATION / TITLE III PROJECTS / SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS (SRS)- Administrative Analyst Arminda Searcy
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Consider final approval of the proposed recommendation for FFY 2023 Secure Rural Schools & Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 funding for Title III Projects:
1) Tehama County Fire - Community Fire Prevention Program in the amount of $30,000 to partially fund a County Fire Prevention/Education Officer position
2) Sheriff’s Department - Search & Rescue Project - $30,000 to be used for the acquisition of a new Search and Rescue truck for the Tehama County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team
3) Resource Conservation District of Tehama County - Tehama East & West Community Wildfire Protection Plan Implementation - $5,000 to be used by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County to implement projects identified in the Plan, to include attending fire related meetings, applying for grant funding for identified projects, hosting community chipping and mastication days, and/or providing free defensible space assistance to special needs property owners including the elderly (65 or older) or those who are physically and/or financially unable to provide and/or maintain mandated defensible space around their property
4) Resource Conservation District of Tehama County - $20,445.14 to work with Firesafe Councils and Firewise communities to create defensible space, and develop ingress and egress through roadside fuels reduction
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Financial Impact:
Tehama County received $85,445.14 in FFY 2023 Title III funds.
Background Information:
The Secure Rural Schools & Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) was reauthorized for a period of three years by the 2021 Infrastructure Bill signed into law (P.L. 117-58) by the President on 11/15/21. The reauthorizing legislation slightly changed the restricted uses of Title III funds to (changes in bold italics):
1)To carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program;
2)To reimburse the participating county for search & rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols performed on Federal land and paid for by the participating county;
3)To cover training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency service described in paragraph 2);
4) To develop and carry out community wildfire protection plans
5) To provide or expand access to a) broadband telecommunications services at local schools; or b) the technology and connectivity necessary for students to use a digital learning tool at or outside of a local school campus.
The proposed projects were advertised for public comment for a period of 45 days and filed with the Mendocino National Forest.