MINUTES

Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee

12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
MRPC Office
4 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO 65559  

CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Kraig Bone called the February 24, 2010 meeting of the Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:
Margaret Biolsi, Kraig Bone, Dan Dyer, Buz Harvey, Les Murdock, Ken Ramsey, Deborah Rhodes, Andrea Rice, and Darrell Skiles, Ron Smith, Shirley Stulce and Dave Clifton.

MEMBERS ABSENT:
Bob Baldwin, Kris Bayless, Edna Bridges, Andrew Careaga, Doug Drewel, Don Ertle, James Gamache, Jane Jadwin, Wade Jadwin, Alan Kimrey, John Lucas, Bill Patt, Ray Massey, Brad Nash, Bruce Parton, and Robert Williams.

STAFF & GUESTS PRESENT:
Matt Jackson – Washington County 911 Dispatch, Alan Cortvrient – DNR EER, Steve Besemer – SEMA, Cheryl Dupes, Amy McMillen, Bonnie Prigge, Tammy Snodgrass and Teri Smith – MRPC.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Les Murdock made a motion to approve the agenda for today’s meeting of the Meramec Regional Planning Committee. Margaret Biolsi seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Les Murdock made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 28, 2009 meeting of the Meramec Regional Planning Committee. Margaret Biolsi seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORT:
Cheryl Dupes reported that the MREPC audit has been completed and copies are available to board members after the meeting. Ms. Dupes presented the financial report for the period ending January 31, 2010. Bank interest was $166. Expenses for that time frame were $18,704. Revenue over expenditures was $-18,538. The total liabilities and fund equity is $31,119.38.

Les Murdock made a motion to approve the financial report, as presented. Margaret Biolsi seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Ms. Dupes presented the revised 2009-2010 budget. Projected revenue is $43,948.95 while projected expenses are $46,551.49. The projected ending fund balance on June 30, 2010 is $24,252.05.

Tammy Snodgrass reminded the board that having to prepare two different applications (Training and HMEP) creates twice the paperwork and reporting. Ms. Snodgrass reported that 12 of 14 training classes were held and staff spent manhours advertising and fielding calls from the public. Staff time is not covered by training dollars for advertising, only the actual training itself is covered. Staff also developed a tabletop exercise held in Osage County. The exercise was successful.

The Hazmat Plan is not due until August, so we’ll wait until the new contract is out to keep costs down and stay within budget.

Ms. Snodgrass and Mr. Bone have spent many unanticipated hours discussing and trying to resolve issues with MERC.

Andrea Rice made a motion to approve the revised budget. Margaret Biolsi seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:
Kraig Bone asked the board to recognize all the hard work Tammy Snodgrass puts into the MREPC. The committee replied with a round of applause.

HMEP Grants
Ms. Snodgrass distributed copies of the application submitted to MERC and explained where MREPC gets its’ funding.

Last year, MREPC applied for funding for several training classes. The committee held two technician classes, seven awareness and operations classes. We could either request the classes using state provided trainers or use local trainers. It was more cost-effective so we used local trainers. We saved more funding than anticipated, therefore we have additional dollars to spend.

Initially those grants were to be reimbursement only, but the state sent a check for the full amount. After our paperwork was submitted, Dawn Warren of MERC had issues. Ms. Warren disliked that walk-ins for these classes did not have the proper bar code that is issued when registering for classes through the state.

Ms. Warren wants each class to be invoiced separately. Ms. Snodgrass requested a sample in the format that Ms. Warren would like us to use.

Another issue is that one trainer’s invoice broke out expenses. One expense was to hire an evaluator. When trainers provide an operations class, outside evaluators must come in to verify that the students learn the material and can apply their knowledge in a practical situation. Ms. Snodgrass discussed this issue with several trainers. Ms. Warren stated that no evaluator could be paid with the training grant funds, although several other trainers were allowed to do so. Ms. Snodgrass took the issue to the federal level and was told that hiring an evaluator is an allowable expense. Ms. Snodgrass was told by Ms. Warren to ignore what she was told by the state and don’t go over her head again.

Ms. Snodgrass explained that there is $5,900 left in training funds. She asked the board if they would like to spend the funds or apply it against the 2010 grant. The money must be spent on training and cannot be returned. Two agencies have asked for awareness and operations classes and has asked MERC if we can continue to use the trainers that have already been through the bid process if the price hasn’t changed.

Ms. Snodgrass explained her concern over not getting a financial assistance agreement for those funds. Tammy requested a financial assistance agreement, which details the guidelines on how the money should be spent and how reporting should be prepared. Staff has been following Dawn Warren’s guidance without a signed agreement.

Tammy Snodgrass does not want to accept any more HMEP money without a financial assistance agreement signed by all parties. One other county besides MREPC applied for those funds.

Kraig Bone thinks the committee should wait and see what happens. If our applications is approved, and we receive a financial assistance agreement, everything is good.

Les Murdock made a motion to spend the $5,900 on training without a financial assistance agreement. Andi Rice seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Ron Smith and Kraig Bone abstained from voting.

NEW BUSINESS:
Tammy Snodgrass informed the committee that Hazmat Plan surveys will be sent out to emergency responders, cities and counties for updated information. The plan update will be made after the fiscal year ends.

Tammy reported that the spill bill is back on the docket at the state level. The MREPC agreed to resend the resolution adopted last year opposing the bill. Buz Harvey made a motion to resend the resolution to legislators. Ken Ramsey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Alan Cortvrient abstained from voting.

Ms. Snodgrass reported that MERC is doing a fantastic job collecting Tier II funds. Collections are ahead of last years reporting by $112,000.

Tammy received an e-mail regarding a proposed rule change affecting the hazardous materials transportation registration and fee assessment program, where HMEP funding is generated. In the past the fee charged to those transporting hazardous materials was $1,000 per year. This bill is proposing to increase that fee to $3,000 per year.

Tammy distributed a Region 7 regional response team 2009 annual report giving a summary of major spills in Missouri.

The Pipeline Association of Missouri will be having it 2010 Pipeline Awareness & Education Meetings for Emergency Responders. Meeting dates, locations and registration are on their website.

Hazmat IQ training is in Lee’s Summit March 2 nd, 3 rd, or 4 th.

ICS/EOC Interface Class will be held March 16, 2010 in Macon, Missouri.

Warning Coordination Training, part of the Advanced Professional Series, will be June 15th in Springfield, MO.

Tammy reported that MERC secured additional federal funding for training. The available classes are: 24 Hour Identification of Unknown Materials, 24 Hour Confined Space Entry/Rope Rescue, 16 Hour Identification of Meth Lab Unknown, and 16 Hour Air Monitoring. Training will be after June 1, 2010. Staff submitted a request but has not heard back from MERC.

Ms. Snodgrass reported that chemical and detergent suicides are on the rise and emergency responders are being poisoned as well. Emergency responders need to be aware of this trend.

Tammy reported that at the last few meeting, the board discussed memberships in the bylaws. The board agreed that each member county should have at least one member serving on the committee. Ken Ramsey made a motion to approve the bylaws revision. Buz Harvey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

REPORT FROM SEMA REPRESENTATIVE:
Steve Besemer works with Marcus Oglesby with SEMA in Jefferson City. Mr. Besemer specializes in earthquake preparedness.

REPORT FROM MDNR REPRESENTATIVE:
Alan Cortvrient reported an increase in mercury calls. SEMA will have another mercury collection in 2010.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF UPCOMING MEETINGS:
The SEMA/MEPA conference is April 20-23 rd in Branson, MO.

Region I HSOC meeting is April 29 th.

SETTING OF DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING:
The next MREPC meeting will be June 23 rd, 2010. MERC’s training coordinator, Michael White, will speak at the next meeting.

Amy McMillen reported that Region I HSOC will be holding shelter training and to contact her if interested in attending.

ADJOURNMENT:
Ron Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ken Ramsey seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 2:13 p.m.

__________________________________________ ____________________

Kraig Bone, Chairman Date

__________________________________________ ____________________

Attest Date