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March 15, 2007

LEPC Meeting

Members attending were Jeff Baier, Richard Banes Jr., John Crosby, Jerry Jo Deckert, Richard Everett, Roger Gardner, Randy McCauley, Louis Sandoval, and Vivian Button.

Vivian Button Called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.

Jerry Jo Deckert made a motion to accept the minutes to the last meeting and Jeff Baier seconded.  Motion carried, minutes were approved.

The Emergency Services Channel 10 was running in the background.  Pioneer Communications has provided this channel to help inform the public.  So far weather information, flooding and road conditions with pictures and meeting and training announcements have been posted on the channel.  We will eventually run training and safety videos.   Jerry Jo stated she would like to see 911-cell phone information be put on the channel and an explanation of information needed by dispatch when an emergency call is placed.

In about 2 or 3 weeks a Firefighter 2 class will be started online thru Garden City Community College.  A Firefighter 1 class will also be starting in 3 to 4 weeks.  Both classes will be two days a week with some Saturdays.

Emergency Management will be setting up meetings with each department to discuss their part in the NetEOP (County Emergency Operations Plan).

On March 5, 6 and 7 we had Louisiana State University come and teach a CAMEO (Computer Aided Management of Emergency Operations) class.  Nineteen people attended the class. Seven were from Grant County.

We will be setting up a time to do an After Action Report on the Foreign Animal Disease Exercise we had in October and the Ice Storm in December and January.  It was recommended we wait until April to have this meeting.

John Crosby talked about the Regional Council.  The Regional Council is still working on setting up an Incident Management Team (IMT) for the Southwest Region.  They have 19 signed up and would like a total of 25.  Five people from Grant County have signed up to be on the team.  Jerry Jo said she would be interested and Luis Sandoval from BP took an application back to BP to see if anyone from their IMT Team would be interested.  The IMT requires a two year commitment and you have to be available to take the training.  The last of September or First of October there will be 6 days of training.  This is a Monday thru Saturday class and will be held in Ulysses.  We have to have at the least 20 to hold the class, but could accept 50 for the class.  There will also possibly be 2 days of Unified Command training in November. John also talked about the ODP (Office of Domestic Preparedness) grant funds will be regional for 2007.  The counties will not get funds.  We have a communications trailer that was purchased with ODP Grant Funds and it is being utilized as a regional trailer and the region is helping to put communication equipment so all organizations in our region will be able to use the trailer.

The Regional Council is also working on an Amateur Radio Project for 2007.

Jeff Hutton came to Ulysses on March 6^th and presented the 2007 Storm identification and Spotter training. Five people attend the afternoon session and 54 attended the evening session.

Some upcoming training in the area:  Emergency Planning and Special Needs Populations in Ulysses May 22-23,  ICS 300-Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents June 11-12 in Ulysses, and Community Mass Care Management in Garden City on June 28.

The New NIMS information fact sheets for NIMS Compliance requirements for Local Emergency Planning Committees were passed out.  NIMS requirements were discussed and when and how to complete the training.

We need to set up an exercise committee for this year.  For our SLA Funding we have to do an exercise every year. We have to have a full scale exercise at least every 5 years. Richard Everett from Southwest Kansas Health Initiative stated on May 16 from 10 AM to 2 PM a table top exercise with his 5 county Health Departments is going to be held.  He needs at least 4 representatives from each county besides the Health Department. This could be Emergency Medical Service, Fire, Emergency Management, Commissioner, Public Information Officer and Public works.  The exercise for the SLA funding has to include a hazardous material. The Grant County Health Department also has to do a POD (Point of Dispensing) Exercise this year also.

Don Button was in Topeka at the HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) training.   HSEEP is how our exercises will be conducted and evaluated.  Don was also asked to speak at the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Luis from BP talked about how the pipeline project is going.  The weather has caused some problems but it is going well.

Randy McCauley from Grant County Road and Bridge, stated roads were better.  They have filled some of the roads but they are not solid yet.  The roads could use some rain to pack the roads.  Most blacktops are ok but still some soft spots on other roads.

KULY/KFXX being off the air was discussed. Jerry Jo wanted to know if the radio station had a generator if they could have been on the air. Vivian will contact Bob Dale and ask him.  Road and Bridge has their building set up so they can open the doors if the power is off and so has the Fire Department.  Grant County EMS is working on their doors.

Richard Banes Jr. stated the Spring Cleanup week is April 23 thru the 27 for Ulysses.  Grant County’s Spring Cleanup starts April 21 thru April 28.  He said the city would not take concrete, batteries or tires.

John Crosby said the Garden City Community College is trying to save their Public Safety Programs. They are trying the Fire Fighter classes on-line and doing some out reach classes.

Roger Gardner from Pioneer Communications said, “Remember the Health Fair on March 24.”

The next LEPC Meeting will be April 19 at 6:00 PM.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

Tentative dates: May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15, and December 20.

Submitted by Vivian Button