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Dec. 4, 2010 For more information, contact: LaJoie Named Chairman of Homeland Security Committee ST. JAMES— George LaJoie, the EMS representative to the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee was named chairman of the HSOC during its Oct. 28 annual meeting in St. James. LaJoie had previously served as vice chair and is employed by Air Evac and is headquartered at Salem. He replaces Laclede County Emergency Management Director Jonathan Ayres of Lebanon. Under HSOC bylaws, officers serve one-year terms. Adam Birdsong with the City of Rolla Fire and Rescue, Rolla, was selected to serve a vice chair. Some 80 people attended the HSOC’s annual meeting, which included displays and demonstrations involving equipment that has been purchased through the HSOC with homeland security dollars. In other business, the group also discussed the change in how the Department of Public Safety—Homeland Security is funding Homeland Security Response Teams (HRST), one of which is the City of Rolla Fire and Rescue. Funding has been reduced and will now come through the HSOC, instead of being awarded directly to the response team. Each of the 14 core disciplines selected a primary and alternative to serve on the committee. The group also discussed the next round of grants and set deadlines. The group will review requests and make recommendations in mid-December. Approximately $287,000 is available for distribution. The group’s Region I HSOC 2010 Annual Report was also made available during the meeting. Those wishing to receive a copy may contact Amy McMillen at amcmillen@meramecregion.org or by phone at 573-265-2993. The Region I HSOC, established along the boundaries of the State Highway Patrol Troop I, includes Crawford, Dent, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Laclede counties. Meramec Regional Planning Commission serves as fiscal agent for the Region I HSOC. Three counties in the Meramec Region—Gasconade, Osage and Washington—are served through other HSOC regions. Gasconade and Osage counties are a part of Troop F, which is being coordinated by the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Ashland while Washington County is a part of Troop C, which is coordinated by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission at Perryville. |