Created on 04/02/2018

Agenda Item # 6

Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

April 10, 2018

Agenda Report # 107

TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program

INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department

Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a grant of $84,160.00 or as otherwise awarded, from the 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by like amount.

Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program for the maintenance of equipment received as part of 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:

Georgia SAR Coastal - Glynn County and City of Savannah

· Georgia SAR Central - Macon/Bibb County and Houston County

· Georgia SAR Metro - Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Clayton Counties, and City of Atlanta

· Tifton SAR South

· Columbus SAR West Central Georgia

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 new equipment and the maintenance of equipment already received from the state.

Financial Considerations: The grant is for equipment maintenance amounting to $84,160.00, with no matching funds required.

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

Recommendation/Action: Approval is requested to accept a grant of $84,160.00 from the 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program.

A RESOLUTION
NO. _____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF $84,160.00 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE 2018 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM AND IF NEEDED, AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT. THESE FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT RECEIVED AS PART OF 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 maintenance of equipment requested in the grant proposal will greatly enhance the current emergency response program; and,

WHEREAS, the funds have been allocated through the 2018 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.

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

1) That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept a Homeland Security Grant of $84,160.00 from the 2018 Homeland Security Grant Program.

2) Amend the budget if needed through increasing the Multi-Governmental Fund by $84,160.00 or the actual amount funded.

__________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held the _______ day of ___________, 2018 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 Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.

_______________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor