Agenda Item # 6

Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting

May 13, 2014

Agenda Report # 117

TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program

INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department

Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a grant for equipment totaling $18,456, or as otherwise awarded, from the 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program.

Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program for the purchase of equipment to be utilized by the West Central Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR) Team. This team was formed to improve responses to heavy rescue emergencies to the citizens of Columbus and surrounding counties. Heavy search-and-rescue involves the location, rescue (extrication), and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces. Structural collapse is most often the cause of victims being trapped, but victims may also be trapped in transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.

Currently in the state of Georgia, there are 5 GSAR Teams. They are located at:


The GSAR teams will be able to respond to incidents across the state under mutual aid, but the local jurisdictions will own the vehicles and equipment. The goal of the GSAR teams is to have a four-hour response capability anywhere in the state.

Analysis: The state is providing the funds for the equipment and will purchase the equipment for the city.

Financial Considerations: The grant is for equipment amounting to $18,456, with no matching funds required.

Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to receive these funds.

Recommendation/Action: Authorize to submit an application, and if approved, accept a grant for equipment totaling $18,456 from the 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program.

A RESOLUTION

NO. _____


A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT FOR EQUIPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,456 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE 2013 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM. THE EQUIPMENT RECEIVED WILL BE UTILIZED BY THE WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SEARCH AND RESCUE (GSAR) TEAM. THIS TEAM WAS FORMED TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO HEAVY RESCUE EMERGENCIES TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. HEAVY SEARCH-AND-RESCUE INVOLVES THE LOCATION, RESCUE (EXTRICATION), AND INITIAL MEDICAL STABILIZATION OF VICTIMS TRAPPED IN CONFINED SPACES. STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE IS MOST OFTEN THE CAUSE OF VICTIMS BEING TRAPPED, BUT VICTIMS MAY ALSO BE TRAPPED IN TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS, MINES AND COLLAPSED TRENCHES.


WHEREAS, the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services has been approved by the Governors office to fund the GSAR team; and,

WHEREAS, the equipment requested in the grant proposal will greatly enhance the current emergency response program; and,

WHEREAS, the funds have been allocated through the 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program; and,

WHEREAS, the equipment will be utilized to respond to heavy rescue emergencies to Columbus and the surrounding counties; and,

WHEREAS, this grant proposal requires no matching funds; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept submit an application and, if approved, accept a Homeland Security Grant for equipment totaling $18,456 from the 2013 Homeland Security Grant Program.

__________________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held the _______ day of ___________, 2014 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _______ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.


_____________________________ _________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor