Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item___1___



COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT

Council Meeting





Agenda Report #____95____



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: GEMA - Homeland Security Grant Program



INITIATED BY: City Manager's Office

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Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to apply for and if approved accept

a grant of up to $1,940,632 from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency fund

through the Homeland Security Grant Program and amend the budget through

increasing the Multi-Governmental Fund 216 by $1,940,632 or the actual amount

funded.



Background: Funds have been allocated to the Georgia Emergency Management

Agency for Homeland Security. Approximately $2,300,000 has been made available

to the All Hazards Council to promote Homeland Security in the 25 counties

located in Area 4.



Analysis: Funding of these grant proposals will vastly improve our ability to

respond to terrorist acts in Area 4 or any location in Georgia. These are

competitive grants which will be reviewed and voted on by the members of the

All Hazards Council. The grants proposals have been prioritized as follows:



#1 Hazmat Truck $400,000

#2 Andros Robot $147,933

#3 Epix Digital Imaging System $ 25,049

#4 Emergency Alert System $ 15,000

#5 Communications Transport Vehicle $ 30,000

#6 Communications Trailer $560,000

#7 Crowd Control/Major Incident Response System $762,650



Financial Considerations: The total grant request is for $1,940,632 and does

not require a local match. The grant stipulates that equipment funded under

this program be maintained and insured by the local government that receives

the grant. It also requires the local government to be able to transport and

man the equipment when requested to do so by GEMA. Cost associated with the

maintenance, insurance, and transportation of equipment as well as personnel

cost will be funded by the local government.



Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligibility to

receive these funds.



Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant of up to

$1,940,632 from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency funded through the

Homeland Security Grant and amend the budget through increasing the

Multi-Governmental Fund 216 by $1,940,632 or the actual amount funded Program.