HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Government Committee 03-23-1999 _
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ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Thomas Dorsey, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Charles P. Mehls, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Emergency Government Committee
DATE OF MEETING: Tuesday, March 23, 1999
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: City Hall
Glenwood City, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING OPEN
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
OLD BUSINESS
1) Update on Ag Center EOC (Emergency Operations Center) Auxiliary Power
2) Shelter Inventory Update
NEW BUSINESS
1) Glenwood City's Emergency Operations Plan
2) Director's Report
3) Approve February Bills
4) Public Comments
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDE14CE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: Jack Colvard, Emergency Government PHONE #3864719/386-4718
DATE: March 9, 1999
Copies to: County Board Office Committee Members
County Clerk News Media/Notice Board
MINUTES
Emergency Government Committee
March 23 , 1999
PRESENT: Chuck Mehls, Arthur Jacobson, John Mortensen, Bob Boche -
County Board; Jack Colvard, Pam Benson - Emergency Government;
Bruce Brantner — Emergency Communications; Larry Peterson -
American Red Cross; Chuck Christenson - Land and Water
Conservation; Louise Jeske, Mike Norenberg - Glenwood City;
Craig Adams, Peter Kilde -West CAP.
Chairman Mehls called the meeting to order at 9: 00 a.m. The agenda was
adopted on a Mortensen/Jacobson MOTION.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: April 13, 1999, 9: 00 a.m.- Woodville Village Hall
After review, Minutes from the February 11, 1999 meeting were approved
on a Mortensen/Jacobson MOTION.
OLD BUSINESS
1) Update on Aa. Center EOC Auxiliary Power•
Chuck Christenson spoke regarding the wiring to be upgraded in the
Ag building. Brantner informed the Committee that maintenance
tested the generator and found that it runs rough and needs a tune-
up. Discussion followed on the costs of a tune-up and maintenance
of the generator.
2) Shelter Inventory Update:
Colvard informed the Committee that a survey of all of the schools
and other facilities identified as County shelters has been
completed. None of the schools have generators that are hooked up
to heating systems, only to their emergency lighting. Most of the
other shelters do not have any back-up power capabilities. Thus,
there are few heated shelters in the county in the event that there
would be power outages from ice storms or Y2K problems.
Colvard also spoke with St. Croix Electric and NSP about Y2K
preparedness. Both feel that their equipment is ready, for Y2K.
However, they both stated concerns beyond their control with the
power suppliers including Dairyland Power, nuclear power plants and
incoming transmission lines. Failure or disruption in any of these
areas could create brown outs here.
NEW BUSINESS:
1) Glenwood City's Emergency Operations Plan:
Discussion focused on each municipality having an Emergency
Operations Plan. Glenwood City did start to develop a plan,
however, Colvard identified additional areas that should be
considered in their plan.
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Craig Adams, from West CAP, spoke about some concerns for the
clientele that they serve, and how Glenwood City and West CAP could
work together in a disaster. What resources each has available
were discussed. Also discussed were the shelter facilities in
Glenwood City and their amenities.
Colvard will distribute Y2K pamphlets from the American Red Cross
to West CAP and Glenwood City Hall.
2) Director's Report
State training funds used to fund emergency service training in the
County have run out. Wisconsin Emergency Management says it is out
of money. The Committee raised questions on this issue since it is
only four months into the new federal fiscal year. The State's
management of funds was discussed. Colvard is already asking
emergency service agencies to identify their training needs for
next year (2000) and to let him know about classes they may want so
he can try and lock in funding for next year.
The Wisconsin Emergency Management Association (WEMA) Conference is
scheduled for May 25 and 26 at Green Bay. Committee members
wishing to attend the conference should notify him as soon as
possible.
There was a hazardous material spill at the Twin Cities East (TCE)
truck stop on February 18th. This was a 6 hour long incident
involving Hudson Fire, Sheriff's Department, Highway Department,
Hudson Ambulance, State Patrol, DNR, Emergency Communication's
mobile van and Emergency Government. All patrons, staff and
truck drivers had to be evacuated due to the potential danger of
the products spilled by a semi at the facility. The Hudson Fire
Department was in charge of the incident and handled it very
professionally.
As part of grant requirements, the director has to attend at least
one State-sponsored training course each year. Colvard will be
attending the Hazardous Material Incident Management course at Fort
McCoy the last week of April.
Two "Skywarn" severe weather identification spotter classes have
been scheduled; April 19th at WITC in New Richmond and May 10th at
the Baldwin Community Center, both at 7:00 p.m. Both courses are
open to the public and will be presented by meteorologists from the
National Weather Service out of Chanhassen. Public Service
Announcements were mailed to all of the newspapers in the County.
Benson and Colvard each attended one meeting in February and March
with the Cyclone Centennial Committee in New Richmond. This year
is the 100th anniversary of the New Richmond tornado, which is
listed as killing 117 people. Members of the Centennial Committee
have determined that the death toll was greater than originally
thought. Four non New Richmond residents were killed and their
remains returned to their home towns. Also, a mass grave for
unidentified victims was discovered behind a church. None of these
victims was included in the 117 death toll.
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A UHF radio has been installed in the Emergency Government Office
to allow direct communications with the Baldwin Ag. Center's
Emergency Operations Center. Both the radio here and at Baldwin
were from Emergency Communication's surplus property in storage.
St. Croix Electric Co-op informed Colvard that FEMA has awarded
them $824,500 in funding for repairing or replacing transmission
lines damaged in the June 1998 storms. These funds will be paid as
each of seven separate projects are completed over the next
couple of years.
1st Aid Refresher classes and a full First Aid Class are being
scheduled with the Personnel Department for County employees for
April and May (dates to be determined) .
There will be a meeting with the nursing homes and hospitals on
March 24th in the County Board Room. A mutual aid agreement
developed by the nursing homes has been sent to the State
(Department of Health and Family Services [DHFS] ) for that
department's approval. It appears that the St. Croix County
mutual aid agreement may become a pilot project for other counties
in the State.
Colvard distributed several handouts to Committee members
including: 1) Public Health - How They Would be Involved in a
Disaster, 2) Calculating the Amount of Debris from Storms, and
3) A list of hazardous materials transported through the County in
1998 by Wisconsin Central Railroad.
3) Approve February Bills:
The February bills paid were approved on a Mehls/Boche MOTION.
4) Public Comments
None
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. on a Jacobson/Boche MOTION.
Respectfully submitted,
Arthur Jacobsow, Secretary
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