County assists with Florence water crisis
Staff reporter
Michele Abbott-Becker, director of communications and emergency management, reported Monday to Marion County Commission lightning struck the City of Florence water plant preventing the production of water.
Abbott-Becker said she coordinated mutual aid with Hillsboro to assist Florence by pumping water from Peabody. Truckloads of water were brought to Florence while awaiting repairs.
All local resources through the county emergency management office, must be exhausted before state or federal funding will be used, Abbott-Becker explained.
An important meeting with all cities and the county regarding a mitigation plan is scheduled for May 27 in Marion City Building basement.
To qualify for disaster grant funding, the county must have a plan in place. The county's plan requires all cities within the county to have plans. Bucher, Willis, and Ratliff will be at the meeting to assist with the plan.
Once completed, all cities will have a mitigation on file with the state and be eligible for grant funds.
The radio repeaters being replaced will be advertised for sealed bids. Abbott-Becker suggested the right to refuse any and all bids.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta suggested the repeaters be put on eBay. Abbott-Becker said she will check into that and advertising with an emergency communications publication.
The modified storm shelter to be used for storing the new radio receivers will be delivered this week. The company charged $100 to modify the building to include electricity. The total price of the building will come in below the $3,000 estimate, Abbott-Becker said.
The commission approved an additional contract with TBS Electronics, the radio system upgrade consultant. An additional $1,440 was estimated to finish the project. The consultant has received $9,600 to date.
Abbott-Becker will attend a training meeting regarding the new wireless fund. She suggested someone from the clerk's office attend since the funds will be dispersed through that office. County clerk Carol Maggard will appoint someone to attend.
Emergency communication statistics were released by Abbott-Becker for April.
There were 492 calls made to 911 dispatch during the month with more than 70 percent coming from cell phones.
Abbott-Becker requested and received a 10-minute executive session with the commission to discuss personnel issues. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
