Jan. 30, 2008
For more information, contact:          
Richard Cavender, Tammy Snodgrass or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

Homeland Security Committee Recommends $305,000 In Grants
Requests exceeded $1.6 million

ST. JAMES—With some $1.6 million in requests and only $305,000 in funding, the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee (HSOC)  had the arduous task of determining which requests would become a part of its official recommendation. That application of request will be sent to the State Homeland Security Advisory Committee and the State Emergency Management Agency in February.

The committee, with 12 of 14 members and alternates present, met Jan. 8 to review and evaluate 17 grant requests and determine those to be funded.

“All the grant requests were eligible and worthy of funding,” said Paul Rueff. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have $1.6 million. We only had $305,000. Each grant request was carefully evaluated for its maximum benefit to the region without creating a duplication.”

Those requests to be included in the Region I request to SEMA include:

• American Red Cross of Phelps and Pulaski counties for a truck to pull supply trailers—$33,000;
• City of Rolla Homeland Security Response Team for improvement to its command center—$38,000;
• St. James Ambulance District, on behalf of all Region I ambulance districts, for ambulance triage tag reader equipment—$86,230;
•  Meramec Regional Planning Commission for additional volunteer credentialing and badge system equipment—$9,523;
•  Sullivan Fire Protection District for a mass triage/casualty trailer—$24,975
• Missouri Department of Agriculture for agri-terrorism producer trainings—$12,500;
• Dent County Sheriff’s Department for a generator for the 911 public service answering point—$10,000;
• MRPC to continue staff support of the interoperability committee and the development of volunteers and shelters—$50,000; and
• A communications interoperability reserve fund to purchase communications equipment on a regional basis–$40,894.

“Six of the nine funded grant requests were reduced after the projects were ranked,” Rueff explained. “We were fortunate that the requesting agencies were present  and were able to define the bare bones amenities they needed and still have their projects viable. This willingness to give up the ‘icing on the cake’ allowed the committee to spread the limited grant dollars farther. I am proud to be associated with agencies that are willing to give a little for the benefit of all.”

This is the second year that a local committee has made funding recommendations, a task previously handled by SEMA staff.

MRPC staff will now prepare the final application, which must be submitted to SEMA by Feb. 29, 2008. The State Homeland Security Advisory Committee is expected to make the final decision in April. Once approved at the state level, grant recipients would be notified. As was the case last year, MRPC will be responsible for the procurement of approved items. Under a contract with SEMA, MRPC acts as the HSOC’s administrative entity and fiscal agent.

The Region I HSOC, established along the boundaries of the State Highway Patrol Troop I, includes Crawford, Dent, Maries, Phelps and Laclede counties.
Committee members are:

• Emergency Management: Bob Hutson, City of Bourbon; Alternate: Johnathan Ayes, Laclede County;
• Police Chief: Chief Sam Mustard, City of Lebanon; Alternate: Scott Mathenia, City of Bourbon;
• Sheriff: Richard Wrinkle, Laclede County; Alternate: vacant;
• Fire: Sam Schneider, City of Lebanon, Alternate: Robert Williams, City of Rolla;
• County Health Departments: Shirley Stulce, Crawford County Nursing Service/Health Department; Alternate: Debbie Rhodes, Department of Health and Human Services;
• Homeland Security Rescue Team: Bryan Lewis, City of Rolla; Alternate: Ron Smith, City of Rolla;
• Public Works: Charlie Malone, Dent County; Alternative: Bob Baldwin, City of Cuba;
• Mayor/City Administrator: James Morgan, City of Crocker; Alternate: John Butz, city of Rolla;
• County Commissioners: Bill Farnham, Pulaski County; Alternate: Darrell Skiles, Dent County;
• Private Industry/Public Utility: Tony Floyd, Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association;
• Emergency Medical Services: Linda Hanrahan, St. James Ambulance; George LaJoie, AirEvac Lifeteam, Salem;
• 911: Michelle Graves, Pulaski County 911; Alternate: Charles Witt, Crawford County 911;
• Volunteer Groups: Paul Rueff, Phelps County Disaster Committee; Alternate: Edna Bridges, Phelps-Pulaski American Red Cross; and
• Schools: Todd Schuetz, Lebanon R-III Schools; Alternate: Kim Shockley, St. James Schools.

Paul Rueff of St. James, representing the Phelps County Disaster Committee, serves as chair, and Linda Hanrahan, St. James Ambulance District, is vice chair.

The HSOC also includes ex-officio representatives from various agencies, including Missouri State Emergency Management Agency Area Coordinator, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Missouri Division of Fire Safety, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Water Patrol, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, Fort Leonard Wood, University of Missouri Rolla, Mark Twain National Forest, United States Geological Survey, National Park Service and United States Department of Agriculture.
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 Troop C, which is coordinated by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Perryville.

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