Aug. 21, 2006

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

BOURBON EMD BOB HUTSON TO CHAIR HOMELAND SECURITY REGIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Paul Rueff of Phelps County Disaster Committee to serve as vice chair

ST. JAMES—Bob Hutson, the emergency management director for Bourbon, will serve as the first chairman of the Region I Homeland Security regional oversight committee, which was officially formed July 31. The 13-member 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 and officially met for the first time on Aug. 17 at MRPC. Hutson represents emergency management directors on the board.

Paul Rueff of the Phelps County Disaster Committee will serve as vice chairman. Rueffrepresents volunteer organizations on the board.

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.

Prior to the electing officers and setting terms, representatives from the county commissions and the county sheriffs caucused to select representatives.

Representing county commissioners will be Bill Farnum, Pulaski County associate commissioner; Alternative: Ed Mitchell, Crawford County associate commissioner.

Representing sheriffs will be J.B. King, Pulaski County sheriff; Alternative: Doug DiNatale, Maries County sheriff.

See the sidebar article for a complete list of committee members and non-voting ex-officio members.

During the formation meeting, the committee also established terms of offices for each position and approved bylaws. The group continues to look for interested persons to serve in alternate positions for public works and volunteer groups.

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.

One of the main functions of the group will be to allocate grant dollars for homeland security needs within Region I, and that work will begin on Sept. 15 when SEMA officially announces the allocation to each region and the eligible activities. Some $8 million to $10 million will be earmarked to the nine regions to allocate for grants. The amount each region receives will be announced on Sept. 15 and will be based on population, risks, critical infrastructure and key resources, SEMA representatives told the group on Aug. 17. Eligible activities will also be defined along with the time frame for reviewing requests and awarding grants.

MRPC will handle all purchases on behalf of the grant recipients.

The HSROC's next regularly scheduled meeting is set for 2 p.m. Oct. 19 at MRPC, 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. 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.

Cutline: Bob Hutson, at right, emergency management director for Bourbon, leads his first meeting as chairman of the Region I Homeland Security Regional Oversight Committee on Aug. 17. Pictured at left is Jim Pasley, Region I area coordinator for the State Emergency Management Agency.

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