Agenda Item _1_
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/28/2007
Agenda Report # 212
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program - West Central Georgia Search
and Rescue (GSAR) Team
INITIATED BY: Columbus Fire and EMS Department
________________________________________________________________________________
________
Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept a grant of $1,275,000.00, or
as otherwise awarded, from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program and amend
the Multi-Governmental Fund by like amount.
Background: Funds have been allocated to the 2007 Homeland Security Grant
Program for the formation of a West Central Georgia Search and Rescue (GSAR)
Team 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 3 other 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
The department will receive an identical vehicle to the teams listed above, the
equipment to outfit the response units, and train 75 personnel in specialized
rescue operations. Each team member will undergo approximately 400 hours of
search and rescue training to receive certification. 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 will provide the requested vehicles and equipment and
additional funding for training
Financial Considerations: The grant is for equipment amounting to
$1,275,000.00, 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
$1,275,000.00, or as otherwise awarded, from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant
Program.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ___________
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF
$1,275,000.00 OR AS OTHERWISE AWARDED, FROM THE 2007 HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT
PROGRAM AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT. THESE FUNDS WILL
BE UTILIZED FOR THE FORMATION OF A WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA SEARCH AND RESCUE
(GSAR) TEAM TO IMPROVE RESPONSES TO HEAVY RESCUE EMERGENCIES TO THE CITIZENS OF
COLUMBUS AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. HEAVY SEARCH AND RESCUE INVOLVES THE
LOCATION, RESCUE (EXTRICATION), AND INITIAL MEDICAL STABILIZATION OF VICTIMS
TRAPPED IN CONFINED SPACES. STRUCTURAL COLLAPSES IS MOST OFTEN CAUSE OF
VICTIMS BEING 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 equipment requested in the grant proposal will greatly
enhance the current emergency response program; and,
WHEREAS, the funds have been allocated through the 2007 Homeland
Security Grant Program; and,
WHEREAS, the vehicle and 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 HERBY RESOLVES:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept a Homeland
Security Grant of $1,275,000.00 from the 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program
and amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by $1,275,000.00 or the actual amount
awarded.
******
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia
held the _______ day of ___________, 2007 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _______ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting ________
Councilor Anthony voting ________
Councilor Baker voting ________
Councilor Barnes voting ________
Councilor Davis voting ________
Councilor Henderson voting ________
Councilor Hunter voting ________
Councilor McDaniel voting ________
Councilor Pugh voting ________
Councilor Woodson voting ________
____________________ _______________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk Jim Wetherington, Mayor
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