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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLEPC September 18 2019GRANT COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING GRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES BUILDING Lancaster, WI 53813 September 18, 2019 The Grant County LEPC meeting was called to order September 18, 2019 at 10:40 a.m. by Chairman Jerry Wehrle. The following members and personnel were present: LEPC COMMITTEE: Jeff Kindrai, Jack Johnson, Robert Keeney, Jerry Wehrle, Nate Dreckman, Steve Braun, Tonya White and Heidi Pierce. Steve verified the agenda had been posted by the County Clerk at the Administration Building, Courthouse and county website. It was noted that the date of the meeting on the county website was inaccurate but the agenda was correct. Nate second by Jeff motioned to approve the agenda. Jeff second by Jack motioned to approve the minutes. Both motions were approved. Public Comments: None Emergency Management Report: Steve showed a video on EPCRA and the Right to Know Act which explained what the LEPC Committee does. Emergency Management works with the facilities that have chemicals onsite, along with the hazmat team and fire departments to write a plan. Grant County currently has 21 facilities that we write plans with. Hazmat Team Update: There has been an agreement for more than 20 years with Jo Daviess County Response Team. There are several members from Grant and Lafayette Counties. About five years ago we became part of the Wisconsin State Hazardous Materials Team. When an incident happens in Jo Daviess County it is a Jo Daviess County team and when something happens in Wisconsin it may be a Jo Daviess Team or an activation of the State of Wisconsin regional team depending on the nature of the emergency and state approval. Both teams have the same roster, same equipment and same vehicles responding. There are around 30 personnel on the roster but less than that are active. The biggest challenge the team faces is staffing. Cassville Fire Department was just awarded a training grant that will allow us to train more personnel and start recruitment. At the end of July we did an exercise in Cuba City with the fire department for an unknown chemical. On Saturday there will be an exercise in Hanover. We are also working with Vernon County Hazmat Team to do some training with all our personnel. On Memorial Day weekend there was a call at UW-Platteville for a haze in a building. Our regional partners with Madison Fire Department responded to help identify the problem. Emergency Management Update: Steve reported on a number of projects, training and drills involving the hazardous materials response team and the Emergency Management Office. Old Business: There was some discussion on alert systems. We are hoping to work with the communities to help pay for it. Code Red seems to be the most popular. It was determined that we need to put a meeting together to talk about the alert systems and if communities are interested. New Business: Tonya gave an update on the EPCRA Hazardous Material Response Plans. Robert made a motion second by Nate to approve the plans that were presented. Motion carried. There are no claims pending. There was discussion regarding the fees for trucks. Jeff was inquiring if we are still in line with other areas. Steve will check with other counties and take it to the Grant County Emergency Services Association to see what they think. Jack made a motion second by Jeff to approve the procedures for hazmat response expenditures. Steve discussed the process for LEPC compliance inspections. Grant County in the past has used Wisconsin Emergency Management if an inspection is needed. Jeff made a motion second by Nate to use WEM staff in the event of an inspection. Motion carried. The LEPC bylaws were discussed. There are a few changes that need to be made throughout the document. There was also discussing on adding quarterly meetings of March, June, September and December in the bylaws. Steve made a motion second by Jeff to approve the bylaws with those minor changes. The Countywide Hazardous Materials Strategic Plan/Response Plan was presented. There are a few minor changes that need to be made to the plan. Robert made a motion second by Jack to approve the Strategic Plan pending the changes that need to be made. Motion carried The procedure for receiving and processing public requests for information was discussed. Nate made a motion second by Robert to leave the procedures the same. Motion carried. Election of Officers: There was discussion on reaching out to several people regarding filling the groups needed for the committee. Steve will reach out the David Timmerman, Phyllis Fuerstenberg, Patrick Monckton and Christal Foreyt to see if any of them would be interested. Steve will have names to Robert to present at the November County Board meeting. There was also discussion regarding the positions that are listed in the Rules of Operation. Jack made a motion second by Nate to combine the Secretary and Recording Secretary position, remove the sentence “A member may serve no more than two terms in succession” and remove the 2nd Vice Chairperson position. Motion carried. There was some discussion regarding the Community Emergency Coordinator position to be held by the Emergency Management Director. Jack made a motion second by Jeff to make the Community Emergency Coordinator to be held by the Emergency Management Director. Motion carried. Jerry was nominated for Chairperson by Robert second by Jeff. Jeff made a motion second by Nate to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Jerry. Motion carried Robert was nominated for 1st Vice Chair by Steve second by Jack. Nate made a motion second by Jeff to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Robert. Motion carried Tonya was nominated for Secretary by Robert second by Jerry. Robert made a motion second by Steve to cast a unanimous ballot for Tonya. Motion carried Chris was nominated for Coordinator of Information by Steve second by Nate. Robert made a motion second by Jeff to cast a unanimous ballot for Chris. Motion carried The Community Emergency Coordinator position will be held by Steve. Robert made a motion second by Jeff to adjourn. Motion carried Respectfully Submitted, Tonya White LEPC Secretary