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Nearly $80,000 in Homeland Security Grants awarded in Fleming County
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By DANETTA BARKER - Staff Writer
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FLEMINGSBURG - Homeland Security Grants will provide Fleming County with funds to upgrade communications systems for county and city law enforcement agencies. Although all grants have not been received, nearly $80,000 will be coming to the county.
Dwayne Price, emergency management director, said the first part of the grant for $22,755 will buy repeaters, build a tower and program radios for use by the agencies.
"We want to build a 90-foot tower for the antennae that serve dispatch," Price said. "Right now those antennae are mounted on a railing behind the sheriff's office. We want to get them up higher to serve us better."
The purchase of a new repeater for the sheriff's office is also on the list, Price said. The sheriff's office bought a new repeater a few years ago but still is having trouble with communication from the far reaches of the county. Repeaters allow emergency personnel to receive a communication from mobile and portable radios on one wave length and send on another.
"We want to work on all county communications to better serve the citizens," Price said.
Although the first installment of the grant is restricted, Price said the second part, $56,610, will be more flexible.
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| Robin Goldy accesses information at a computer terminal in the Fleming County Dispatch office. The county recently received a grant for new communications equipment. Brian Hitch/Staff |
"That money will be open to more uses," Price said. "We will be able to serve more agencies."
Price said according to grant applications, the county and city formed a planning group to assess the needs of law enforcement agencies. Judge-Executive Larry Foxworthy formed a committee to find the best way to use the money.
Flemingsburg Mayor Louie Flanery, acting Police Chief Randy Sergent, Mike Marshall from the Fleming County Sheriff's Office and Price were selected to the committee.
Personal protective clothing, equipment worn to protect the individual from hazardous materials and contamination, can also be purchased with grant money. Levels of protection are divided into three categories based on the degree of protection afforded, according to the information from the grant application.
Level A is fully encapsulated, liquid and vapor protection ensemble and can be reusable or disposable. This level of protection is used when the highest level of skin, respiratory and eye protection is needed.
"This is like a moon suit," Price said. "You are fully encapsulated. The air pack is on the inside."
The suit, which is heavy and bulky, is used to clean up hazardous spills.
The next level, B, a liquid splash resistant ensemble is used for the highest level of respiratory protection. This suit, with the air pack on the outside is not as heavy as the Level A suit.
Level C is also splash resistant and is used when airborne substances are known and the criteria for using air purifying respirators are met.
"This is a light coverall suit," Price said.
The grants are authorized under the Department of Homeland Security, Directorate of Border Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness and State Homeland Security Grant Program.
Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta. Barker@lee.net. |
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