LTRC receives progress update
Tornado Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) committee members received information on things moving along with the process of helping affected people. The group is still looking for storage for building materials, furniture, appliances, and other essentials. A storage building of at least 1,000 square feet would be needed. A small rent could be made but it could also be used as a tax write-off perhaps.
Two new committee members were introduced. Joe Underwood will be construction manager working onsite doing inspections and working with the crews. He and Christian Parks will be working with case managers and going to different sites.
The pair have already gone to 10 different homesites for visits to do photos and draft pre-bid construction cost estimates. Those estimates are expected to be complete by the end of the week. Homeowners are asked to bring three bids for each area that they need (roof, drywall etc.) Those hard bids from contractors will be included with working budgets for each case manager to present to the unmet needs subcommittee, Parks said.
Case managers are man- aging a total of 67 cases right now. Many of the people that were contacted have stated they don’t need any assistance while others have been contacted several times with no response. Keeping the finances in line will be Harva Kuykendall who will oversee the plans and ensure grant monies are being worked with. Committee Chairman Joel Hood alerted members about a scam presently out telling those affected by the tornado to go to a website and they were still eligible for FEMA monies and other tax credits. Jacksboro Police Department officials have posted that it is a scam and no information should every be given out via a website or online.
Case Manager Sandra Dixon said that getting the word out the committee is doing work and is busy trying to get construction to start. She said people are still out there needing help but are afraid to ask for it.
“Once people see that work is being done and work is going on, things will open up,” Dixon said.
The committee will meet next on Nov. 17.
