HomeMy WebLinkAbout110810GRANT COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/DISASTER SERVICES COMMITTEE
MEETING
GRANT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER
Lancaster WI 53818
November 08, 2010
The Grant County Emergency Management/Disaster Services Committee was called to order November 08 at 1:00 p.m. by
Chairman John Patcle. The following members and personnel were present:
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/DISASTER SERVICES COMMITTEE: Pat Schroeder, Robert Scallon, Vince
Loeffelholz, Lester Jantzen, John Patcle, Larry Wolf. Steve Adrian requested to be excused.
GUESTS: Steve Braun, Emergency Government, Sheriff Keith Govier, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Chief
Deputy Jack Jackson, Coroner Ron Sturmer and Julie Loeffelholz, Recording Secretary.
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Motion by Larry, second by Robert, verified that the meeting had been posted in accordance with the open-meeting law.
The Agenda was approved with no corrections in a motion by Vince, second by Lester. The minutes of the previous
meeting were approved in a motion by Pat and second by Lester. Bills were approved in a motion by Pat and second by
Lester. All above motions carried.
Director’s Monthly Report: Steve shared an article that appeared in the WI Fire Journal that highlighted the swift -water
rescue training in Wisconsin. Our technical rescue team has capabilities of larger areas. The article highlights that our
public safety organizations are working together at a regional level. We are working at not only swift-water, but confined
space, ropes, ice and trench rescues.
An auditor came from Homeland Security to tour our communications purchases from the last round of grants. It was a day
trip and Steve and the auditor visited the entire county from North to South. The auditor found our purchases and
paperwork to be favorable.
Old Business: Steve reported on the status of the flood recovery from the July 22 flooding. The Public Assistance guys
have been gone for about 2 weeks. We still have some pending issues, but most of the projects are put together and we are
expecting the first round of paperwork from the State in the coming weeks. Our office is looking at about 6 -8 months of
follow-up to ensure projects are done and proper payment has been made to the municipalities. We are still working on a
project from 2004. David LaWall from WEM came to our office to discuss Slabtown Road in Beetown Township before
he left employment as the State Public Assistance Officer with WEM. The township and county engineer had requested to
make changes to the scope of this project in 2005, and the town has been waiting for a response from FEMA. We finally
reached a resolution in favor of the township, and the town will be proceeding with the project. We are also working on a
project on Porter Bridge Road with FEMA, again in Beetown Township. This project also needed a change in the scope of
work. FEMA estimated the cost of repairing and mitigation of the roadway erosion at $30 ,000. The contractor and the
township feel the project needs to be larger with additional rip-rap to keep the stream from washing away more of the road.
The estimates are at about $90,000. The township may have some financial responsibility. Most other Public Assistance
projects are on track and we are distressed that David is leaving WEM. We will be losing out on a great deal of knowledge
and experience when it comes to working out public assistance projects for our municipalities.
Individual Assistance side has been extremely busy for both of us as we are writing several residential appeals each day.
November 17 is the last day for residents to apply for FEMA assistance and we have some concerns that there are still
people out there who are not registered. We did find out that the State, with Federal financial assistance, chose not to fund
Project Recovery and that is a huge loss for our area. Their staff was very helpful in keeping up with the many cases that
needed additional follow-up. They had become our “eyes and ears” and the fact that the program was not funded after this
disaster is a loss.
Mitigation projects are still in process. The houses in Potosi have been taken down and the lots returned to green space.
The demolition project in Lancaster has to be rebid as it came in too high. Question about second property in Lancaster.
We are still waiting to hear from the homeowner’s bank. They must release the mortgage which could mean a loss of
money for the bank.
New Business: Our office has been approached by the Experience Works Program. This program provides part -time jobs
to low-income seniors. We were approached at Elderfest about becoming part of the program. They would place a senior
in our office who would assist with day-to-day operations. The wages of this person along with all other aspects of
employment would be covered by their program and not by the county. This would be a 6 -month term of employment.
Motion by Vince, second by Larry for GCEM to, with Personnel’s c oncurrence, to become part of the program and attain a
person from the program. Motion carried.
Steve played the new Public Service Announcements out from WEM. Matt Kenseth is featured reminding people to
prepare for the winter driving season.
Aid to Firefighter Grants are starting to come out. Thus far, Bagley Fire and Fennimore Fire have both received award
numbers for equipment. Several other departments have gotten rejection letters, but there are many more grants hanging.
We are working on the close out for the Plan of Work to meet State requirements. This is our a nnual Emergency
Management work that is necessary in order to receive funding from the state and federal governments for support of our
program.
Comment that Steve was seen doing an interview on Channel 15 and that he had done a good job with the interview.
Public Comment: None
Motion to Adjourn by Lester, Second by Vince. Motion carried to adjourn until Monday, December 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
in the lower level of the Grant County Law Enforcement Center.
Respectfully Submitted,
Julie G. Loeffelholz, Recording Secretary