Agenda Item # 5
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
September 24, 2013
Agenda Report # 34
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2011 Homeland Security Grant Program
INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to submit an application and, if
approved, accept a grant of $20,000, or as otherwise awarded, from the Georgia
Department of Homeland Security, 2011 Homeland Security Grant Program and amend
the Multi-Governmental Fund by like amount.
Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2011 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 the maintenance of equipment
already received from the state.
Financial Considerations: The grant is for equipment maintenance amounting to
$20,000, with no matching funds required.
Legal Considerations: The Columbus Consolidated Government is eligible to
receive these funds.
Recommendation/Action: Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant of $20,000
from the 2011 Homeland Security Grant Program.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ______
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AND APPLICATION AND
IF APPROVED, ACCEPT A GRANT OF $20,000 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, 2011 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 HEAVE 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 Governor's 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, funds have been allocated through the 2011 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 $20,000 from the 2011 Homeland Security Grant Program; and,
2) Amend the budget if needed through increasing the Multi-Governmental
Fund by $20,000 or the actual amount funded.
________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia
held the _______ day of ___________, 2013 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _______ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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