By GARETT VALCOURT
The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday, Jan. 20, to award contracts for emergency management and disaster response services, concluding discussions that began earlier this month and had been temporarily tabled due to disclosure concerns.
During its Jan. 6 meeting, the board reviewed proposals for emergency management services submitted by Metric Consulting, Kent-Smith Group, and Wheeler Emergency Management Consulting. Metric Consulting received the highest overall score from the selection committee. However, discussion at that meeting included concerns raised by Commissioner Wilmer Stafford regarding the absence of local firms among the bidders.
“It’s a shame there are no locals,” Stafford said during the earlier discussion.
At the same meeting, commissioners also reviewed proposals for disaster response services from D&J Enterprises, Ceres Environmental Services, Bergeron Environmental Services, Dynamic Group, and DRC. D&J Enterprises was disqualified prior to scoring due to a conflict of interest but later was found qualified and scored, and DRC ranked highest overall.
Both contract awards were tabled on Jan. 6 after Commissioners Wilmer Stafford and Earl Stafford disclosed potential family connections with Metric Consulting, prompting the board to delay action until further review.
On 20 January, commissioners voted to award the emergency management services contract to Metric Consulting and the disaster response services contract to DRC.
In other business, commissioners identified several roadway projects to be submitted as priorities for upcoming grant applications through the Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP), the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP), and the Small County Outreach Program for Bridge Projects (BSCOP). Projects placed on the priority list included Highway 177A, Highway 179A, the second phase of Highway 179, and the second phase of Bonifay–Chipley Road.
The board also formally closed out the overflow repair project at Dogwood Lakes and approved right-of-way clearing on Smith Chapel Road. Commissioners noted that additional right-of-way clearing projects are expected in the future.
Further supporting repairs at Dogwood Lakes, the board accepted a $1,000 donation from Danielle Dubin of Dubin Acquisitions to assist with lake repair efforts.
The actions taken Tuesday concluded several matters that had carried over from earlier meetings, allowing the county to move forward with emergency preparedness planning and multiple infrastructure initiatives.
ANDREA WATERS 
Staff Report 