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Thursday, 05 November 2009 |
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
The new chair of the Local Emergency Planning Committee began his first meeting telling members he wanted to see them more involved.
Wapakoneta Fire Chief Kendall Krites who assumed the chair of the organization upon the retirement of St. Marys Fire Chief Ken Cline in September, told the approximate 25 members representing emergency responders, police, fire and health personnel, as well as business and industry, that he wanted to see everyone involved behind the scenes.
“I don’t think there’s a clear understanding of who we are, why we meet and what our goals are,” Krites said Wednesday. “I want everybody to feel a purpose, not just show up every two months for an hour and discuss a few things.”
In a list of items he wanted to make progress on, Krites said he wanted executives of the organization to meet and review all committees, to see if some should be removed, some renamed and some committees’ expectations better defined.
Updates would be made to LEPC’s handbook.
He said in meeting with executives of the LEPC recently, they also agreed that all purchase requests more than $200 should be made in writing. Requests for $500 or more should come as recommendations from committees.
“We want to see outlines for requests for funds rather than vote off the cuff,” Krites said. “If we take requests and put them in writing maybe that can guide our spending a little better.”
The LEPC also agreed during its regular meeting Wednesday to look closer at how it handles facility inspections.
Auglaize County Emergency Managment Agency Director Troy Anderson and LEPC member Herb Sudemann had been teaming up with local fire chiefs and representatives of businesses to perform facility inspections, but Krites suggested they look at Sudemann to perform inspections only when Anderson is not available.
“We’d like to utilize Herb differently,” Krites said.
As it was, Sudemann would receive $100 for each facility he helped inspect. The money was based on a grant, which originally paid for his assistance, when the former director of the Emergency Management Agency was unable to get all the facilities inspections complete as necessary.
When Sudemann is used in the future, LEPC members talked about lowering his pay for what could be between 30 minutes and two hours of work.
“The money we don’t spend on that we can utilize on workshops, speakers and training,” Anderson said.
Krites said LEPC executives plan to get together and continue conversations on changes to consider and how to become more active as a board.
“The community at large doesn’t understand what kind of effort goes on behind the scenes to prepare for emergencies,” Auglaize County American Red Cross Director DaNeen Bryan said. “We all play a key role in the LEPC and a big part of that is public awareness.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 06 November 2009 )
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