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Edgefield
County spends Homeland Security Funds with vision and responsiblity Edgefielddaily.com web posted April 22, 2005 Staff reporting With the many stories nationwide on the waste of Homeland Security funds we decided to take a look at how these funds were spent in Edgefield County to see if the same held true locally. Edgefield Daily.com can report proudly that the oversight of local Homeland Security funds was appropriate. We met with Sheriff Adell Dobey to get a breakdown of the money and how it was used. Sheriff Dobey pointed out that the funds cannot be spent on just anything local authorities may want, there is a list provided from the National Homeland Security agency which spells out the limited uses of the funds. Edgefield County began receiving HLS grants beginning in 2003. The initial grant received was $90,000 and the money was used to provide a new radio system for Emergency Medial Services (EMS), communication equipment such as a new tower in the Merriwether area, and the new EMS operation Center. Sheriff Dobey pointed out the tower was a much needed addition as radio transmissions from the Merriwether were spotty prior to the installation. The Law Enforcement Center received a grant for $19,000 in 2003. Those funds were used to outfit the new Mobile Command Unit, which also doubles in use for the SWAT Team. Sheriff Dobey noted this grant was not used to purchase the vehicle, only the outfitting of radio and communication equipment as well as generators. Sheriff Dobey stated, “I was able to get the vehicle donated to us from Columbia,” and said it was an armored car used in transporting money to and from banks. “It saved us a lot of money,” he said. Sheriff Dobey also noted it had already been put to good use during the recent deadly train wreck and toxic spill in Graniteville. Stating how the area counties, as well as the state, work together and train under the Homeland Security System, Sheriff Dobey said, “We had our Mobile Command Unit on the scene by 8 am that morning as requested,” adding it was, “utilized by DEHC mainly in the beginning as well as some law enforcement use”. He said the unit remained on the site until it was no longer needed by Aiken County, the state, and the federal government agencies. In 2004 the County Homeland Security received a $100,000 grant which provided for extrication equipment, such as Hurst Tools, which is used in the extrication of victims who are trapped in vehicle wreckage or buildings and other fire fighting equipment for the county fire departments. Most all of which are volunteer units. The Law Enforcement Center received a $19,200 grant the same year. This money was used to provide new cell phones for law enforcement which also gave them addition walkie-talkie capabilities as a back up contingency plan if something went wrong with the Law Enforcement Center during a crisis Sheriff Dobey said. Sheriff Dobey said for 2005 the request of HLS grants are based on providing Thermal Imaging Systems which would be used by EMS and Fire Rescue to see through thick smoke or Search and Rescue Teams searching for a victim in urban and rural areas at a cost of $80,907.68 for seven units. Also requested for EMS are multi-channel base stations costing $1000 and $300 for the necessary cables, $3,600 for eight portable walkie-talkies for EMS personnel, emergency generator and transfer switch for an alternate Emergency Operation Center or substation costing $10,000 for a total EMS grant request of $95,897. The Law Enforcement Center is requesting a grant of $29,173 for 2005. That money, Sheriff Dobey said, would be used for, “three all- terrain vehicles that could be used in ‘hot zones’ and search and rescue missions,” at a cost of $24,822. In addition $2,808 would be used to provide three transport trailers for the units. The list was rounded out with eight Ballistic Combat Helmets which, “is protective head gear used by law enforcement during emergency situations in ‘hot-zone’ areas,” Sheriff Dobey said. Sheriff Dobey explained that the County Homeland Security was made up of a committee that includes the Sheriff, the EMA Director, the EMS Director, one fire chief, and one chief of police. The Sheriff said the National Homeland Security Department uses a formula to determine what funds will be made available to local agencies based many things, including populations, and provides a list of allowable uses of those funds. Sheriff Dobey also stated the federal government was “pretty aggressive in promoting our spending of the funds available and limit the time allowed for us to spend it.” He noted there was a long process in getting the grants in that, “you have to have someone write the grants and that is a very rigid process,” Dobey said. The Sheriff took extra time to praise Janice Neskorik, who is writing this years grant requests. “She’s done an excellent job,” he said adding how valuable she is to the process. The grants have to gain the approval from HLS in Washington D.C. Sheriff Dobey stated that being able to get the equipment the county needs via the grants was a great opportunity and he is pleased Edgefield County takes advantage of funds. However, he noted the Sheriff’s Department needs additional manpower and that process is left up to the county council. This year he said he has requested two additional officers in the budget, but that is short of the six the Sheriff says he needs to adequately provide the protection and shorter response times he has set as a goal. Sheriff Dobey invited to attend Georgia statewide Unified Command training Return to
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