Aug. 8, 2006

For more information, contact:           
            Richard Cavender or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

HOMELAND SECURITY REGIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FORMED

Organizational meeting set for Aug. 17 at MRPC

            ST. JAMES—The 13-member Region I Homeland Security regional oversight committee was formed on July 31, and the committee will meet again on Aug. 17 to organize itself, announced Richard Cavender, executive director of Meramec Regional Planning Commission. The committee, which  serves the interests of Crawford, Dent, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Laclede counties, the six counties within Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop I, is comprised of one representative from 13 core disciplines.

            Those persons elected to represent the core disciplines include:

            Emergency Management Director: Bob Hutson, City of Bourbon; Alternate: Jonathan Ayres, Laclede County Office of Emergency Management; 2nd Alternate: Lawson (Smitty) D. Smith, Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management;

          Police Chief: Chief Sam Mustard, City of Lebanon: Alternate: Chief David Pikka, City of Rolla; 2nd Alternate: Chief Scott Mathenia, City of Bourbon;

          Sheriff: Yet to be selected;

          Fire: Chief Chuck Fraley, St. Robert City Fire and Rescue; Alternate: Chief Sam Schneider, Lebanon Fire Department; 2nd Alternate: Chief Robert Williams, City of Rolla;

          County Health: Jodi Waltman, Phelps/Maries County Health Department; Alternate: Shirley Stulce, Crawford County Nursing Service/Health Department; 2nd Alternate: Debbie Rhodes, Region I EOI Specialist;

          Homeland Security Rescue Team: Bryan Lewis, City of Rolla; Alternate: Ronald E. Smith, City of Rolla Fire and Rescue; 2nd Alternate: Chief Sam Schneider, Lebanon Fire Department;

          Public Works: Jack Emory, City of Salem; Alternates still to be selected;

          Mayor/City Administrator: Bill Jenks, City of Rolla; Alternate: James Morgan, City of Crocker;

          County Commissioners: Still to be selected

          Private Industry/Public Utility: Jerry Wellington, Crawford Electric Cooperative;  Alternate:Tony Floyd, Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association;

          Emergency Medical Services: Linda Hanrahan, St. James Ambulance; Alternate: Bill Patt, Steelville Ambulance;

          911: Charles Witt, Crawford County: Alternates yet to be selected.

          Volunteer Groups: Paul Rueff, Phelps County Disaster Committee; Alternates  to be selected.

            MRPC, in partnership with the State Emergency Management Agency, is coordinating the effort. MRPC will act as the group's administrative entity and fiscal agent.

             "The meeting went well and was very productive" said Cavender. "After an explanation of the process and the purpose of the group, the various disciplines broke into working groups and selected representatives from within their group," Cavender went on to explain. "For example, the police chiefs in the region got together and selected one police chief to sit on the committee to represent all police chiefs in the region . They also selected an alternate to serve in absence of the primary member and to rotate into the committee position, when the first term is completed. Most groups also selected a second alternate to ensure representation and continuity in the position, " Cavender added.

            For some time now, SEMA and the Missouri Associations of Councils of Governments have been working on a regional process to identify homeland security needs, prioritize them and assist in the allocation of grant dollars to address those priorities. The process is modeled somewhat after the planning framework process used by the Missouri Department of Transportation, in partnership with Missouri's regional planning commissions and councils of government.

            Homeland Security Oversight Committees are being formed across the state with the purpose of establishing strategies and priorities at the regional level for grant funding programs and other homeland security initiatives.

            One of the main functions of the group will be to allocate grant dollars for homeland security needs within Region I, Cavender said. In the past, SEMA selected projects. Now the Oversight Committee will evaluate needs and determine what cities, counties and emergency response agencies are approved for grants, based on state and federal guidelines and the needs of the region.

            The organizational meeting of the committee is at 1 p.m. on Aug. 17 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. The group will review bylaws and disclosure forms, elect officers and discuss grants and working groups. Persons needing more information on the meeting can contact Tammy Snodgrass at MRPC at 573-265-2993 or Jim Pasley, SEMA Area I coordinator, at 573-526-9262.

            Three counties in the Meramec Region—Gasconade, Osage and Washington—are served through other regions. Gasconade and Osage counties are a part of Troop F, which is being coordinated by the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning  Commission at Ashland while Washington County is a part of the Troop C, which is coordinated by the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission at Warrenton.

            Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 23, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

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