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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 031411 GRANT COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/DISASTER SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING GRANT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER Lancaster WI 53818 March 14, 2011 The Grant County Emergency Management/Disaster Services Committee was called to order March 14 at 10:00 a.m. by Chairman John Patcle. The following members and personnel were present: EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/DISASTER SERVICES COMMITTEE: John Patcle, Larry Wolf, Pat Schroeder, Steve Adrian, Vincent Loeffelholz, Lester Jantzen and Robert Scallon GUESTS: Steve Braun, Emergency Government, Chief Deputy Jack Johnson, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Robert Keeney, Kelly Bird, David Timmerman, Grant County Coroner Ron Sturmer and Julie Loeffelholz, Recording Secretary. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Braun verified the agenda has been posted by the County Clerk at the Administration Building and the Courthouse. Steve also posted the agenda on the Grant County website. Larry, second by Steve, motioned to approve the agenda as mailed. The minutes were approved in motions by Vince and seconded by Lester. All above motions carried. The Monthly Director’s Report was given by Steve Braun. Under Old Business, Steven gave an update on the flooding. Work by municipalities and paperwork through our office continues from the 2010 flash flooding declaration. The CDBG grant has been awarded and we will soon be receiving the paperwork from the Department of Commerce. Some of the funds will be used to purchase two homes on British Hollow Road. Under New Business, the recent snow storm on February 1 was discussed. A Preliminary Damage Assessment was conducted by FEMA last week. They were able to do this from Madison as the paperwork we supplied them was complete enough they could collect the information they needed from there without coming out to the county. We managed to make all the per capita requirements both at the county level and statewide with $484,000 in expenses for snow removal just for Grant County municipalities and entities. The Governor will ask FEMA for the declaration. We should know in the next two to three weeks. There were reports of snow drifts up to 8 feet tall. The Governor declared a State of Emergency and the National Guard was called to assist. Hummvees and snowmobiles were sent out to recover stranded motorists. There were no serious medical calls during the storm that could not be answered, however Beetown Township assisted us with getting an ambulance to the hospital with a woman in labor . There were 150 to 200 cars abandoned on the highway. Steve handed out some information about the Mississippi River and the fact that there is an 89% chance of a major flood in the spring that would be equal to the 2001 floods. The risk percentage keeps increasing each time a forecast is released. We will be hosting a meeting in Cassville with municipalities and entities that may be affected by the flooding. We will include County agencies who might also be involved with the response. Sand bags were discussed. We only have about 15,000 on hand at this time. The cost is approximately $0.16 per bag. Portage County has some extra bags and we may be able to purchase some of theirs. In the pas t, residents and municipalities were charged for sandbags. Steve contacted other counties and none of the others charge for bags. If we should receive a declaration for the flooding, that would cover some of the cost of the bags. Since this is considered an unforeseen and unbudgeted expense, Steve requested permission to make this purchase. Motion by Pat, second by Lester to order 80,000 sandbags. EM Director’s appointment as Lancaster Fire Chief was discussed. Steve has been selected by the City of Lancaster to serve as the Fire Chief by the Police and Fire Commission. Steve has had several discussions with Joyce Roling and with John Patcle about this. Both agreed that Steve would be able to separate the positions and they would not conflict with each other. Steve told the committee that other duties such as inspections would not be his. He also told them that should a major incident or conflict occur, he would serve as Grant County Director of Emergency Management and other officers from the fire department, who were well trained, could step up and fill the leadership roles in the fire department. The committee concurred that Steve could handle both positions and offered their congratulations on his being selected. Under Grants, Steve handed out a list of fire grants that have been awarded and remarked that several grants are still under review. There is no Public Forum at this time. It was motioned by Vince and second by Lester to adjourn until the next meeting on April 11, 2011 at 10:00 am. Motion carried.