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August 27, 2010
For more information, contact:
Amy McMillen or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
Homeland Security Committee Recommends, State Approves $317,000 in Grants
13 agencies to share funds
ST. JAMES—The competition for homeland security grant dollars in 2010 was tough. Some $305,000 were available, and some 23 agencies submitted over $800,000 in requests. It was not quite as bad as in 2008 when the requests topped $1.6 million. With some 2007 grant dollars unused, the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee was able to recommend 13 agencies for funding, at a total cost of $317,203. The State Homeland Security Advisory Committee (HSAC) approved those recommendations recently, making the awards official.
The Region I HSOC recommended and the state HSAC has approved the following projects for funding:
• City of Rolla Homeland Security Response Team for hazardous materials response suits—$26,400;
• Meramec Regional Planning Commission to continue staff planning, coordination and support of the interoperability committee, the development of volunteers and shelters, sub-committee support and badging services—$54,030;
• Region I Public Health and American Red Cross for a shelter generator to be owned by the City of Rolla for the First Baptist Church in Rolla—$54,000;
• American Red Cross for Cambro equipment and two laptops—$1,286;
• Laclede County Office of Emergency Management to purchase a generator for the EOC—$24,000;
• Dent County Commission for additional funds to complete the installation of three-phase generator to be located at Oak Grove Baptist Church, which is designated as a Red Cross shelter/disaster center for Dent County ($46,003 was awarded in 2009)—$24,000;
• City of St. Robert Fire and Rescue for Level A hazardous materials response suits—$21,000;
• Maries County Emergency Management Office for two portable generators—$9,670;
• Rolla Police Department for portable radios—$26,000;
• Waynesville Rural Fire Department for a rapid response trailer—$59,000;
• Vichy Volunteer Fire Department for hazardous materials response equipment—$1,587;
Three requests were funded with unused 2007 grant funds. They include:
• Ozark Central Ambulance, Belle, for communications equipment—$3,450.
• American Red Cross for communications equipment—$6,000.
• Maries County Emergency Management Office for communications equipment—$6,780
Four of the agencies agreed to reduced funding for their projects.
This is the fourth year that a local committee has made funding recommendations, a task previously handled by SEMA staff.
After the local HSOC approved the grant committee’s recommendations in January, the MRPC staff prepared the final application and submitted it to SEMA by the February 2010, deadline. The State Homeland Security Advisory Committee granted its approval in May. 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, Pulaski and Laclede counties.
Committee members are:
• Emergency Management: Johnathan Ayes, Laclede County; Alternate: Lawson Smith of Pulaski County;
• Police Chief: Chief Mark Kearse, City of Rolla; Alternate: Curtis Curenton, City of St. Robert;
• Sheriff: Richard Wrinkle, Laclede County; Alternate: vacant;
• Fire: Doug Yurecko, Waynesville Rural Fire Protection District; Alternate: Larry Flesher, Sullivan Fire Protection District;
• County Health Departments: Debbie Rhodes, Phelps/Maries Counties Health Department; Alternate: Jodi Waltman, Phelps/Maries Counties Health Department;
• Homeland Security Rescue Team: Ron Smith, City of Rolla Fire and Rescue; Alternate: Allan Michaels, City of Rolla Fire and Rescue;
• Public Works: Bob Baldwin, City of Cuba; Alternate: Gary Heavin, City of Rolla;
• Mayor/City Administrator: John Butz, City of Rolla; Alternate: vacant;
• County Commissioners: Darrell Skiles, Dent County; Alternate: Dennis Purcell, Dent County;
• Private Industry/Public Utility: Tony Floyd, Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association; Alternate: vacant
• Emergency Medical Services: George LaJoie, AirEvac Lifeteam, Salem; Alternate: Scott Harris, Salem Memorial District Hospital;
• 911: Charles Witt, Crawford County 911; Alternate: vacant
• Volunteer Groups: Edna Bridges, Phelps-Pulaski American Red Cross; Alternate: Paul Rueff, Phelps County Disaster Committee;
• Schools: Kim Shockley, St. James Schools; Alternate: John Westerman, Newburg R-II Schools
• Hospitals: Deborah Hobson, Salem District Hospital; Alternate: Annie Lekens, General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital; Second Alternate: Debbie Halinar, Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Jonathon Ayres of Laclede County, representing Laclede County Emergency Operations Center, serves as chair, and George LaJoie 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, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 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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