Scott County looking to revise old plans

Terrorism will be included in new Emergency Operating Plan

BENTON - Terrorism and weapons of mass destruction will soon join the list of events Scott County addresses in its Emergency Operating Plan.

Scott County commissioners were visited during their regular meeting Tuesday by representatives from the consulting firm hired by the State Emergency Management Agency to update the county's plan. A revised plan must be in place by the end of the year.

Garry Chegwidden and Marvin Phillips of The Louis Berger Group Inc. of Columbia, and DawnRae Clark of Clark Contract Services in Sikeston met with commissioners "for an introductory meeting, to get a copy of your plan, and let you know who we are," said Chegwidden.

Also attending the meeting were SEMA representative Mark Winkler and Joe Burton, Scott County E-911 administrator.

"We are looking at updating and revising your local plan," Chegwidden said, identifying himself as the team leader, Phillips as the team coordinator and Clark as the local contact for the team. They are one of five teams around the state, according to Chegwidden.

The Louis Berger Group has the contract for all counties in Missouri and 45 cities, Chegwidden said.

The Louis Berger Group has offices in 82 countries, according to Chegwidden. "We are an international company," he said. "We are a large company but we don't operate that way."

Local offices are autonomous, Chegwidden said.

Burton said the county's plan was developed from "a generic plan" and last revised in 1999, with Burton revising the plan himself.

Earthquakes and tornadoes are the county's largest risks, according to Burton, while flooding is contained to small areas of the county.

He noted there are two major gas pipelines that run through the county, and that a lot has changed since Sept. 11, 1991.

Chegwidden confirmed adding sections addressing terrorism and weapons of mass destruction were the focus of the revision. "We'll be starting on your plan as soon as possible," he said.

Upon its completion, the county will receive five copies of the plan, a disk and a CD; and SEMA will receive one copy, a disk and a CD.

Winkler said the county's Emergency Operating Plan is one of three emergency plans, with the other two being the health department's emergency plan, which will be referred to in the Emergency Operating Plan, and the mitigation plan being prepared by the Bootheel Regional Planning Authority under contract by SEMA.

The mitigation plan, which looks at alternatives to mitigate against potential hazards in the county, is required for the county to be eligible for FEMA mitigation project funding, according to Winkler.

In other Scott County business:

* Commissioners approved a bid of $1,831.30 from Technology and Network of Scott City for the replacement of the treasurer's computer.

* Natural Resources Conservation Service officials and commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday for an on-site tour of the St. John's Ditch with Kinder Brothers of Dexter who were awarded the contract for the ditch cleanout project.

Kinder Brothers are slated to move their equipment to the site next week, according to commissioners.

* Jim Schwaninger, Scott County economic developer, will represent the county at a one-day grant compliance workshop in Jefferson City July 16. Attendance is required by the video arraignment grant terms.

* Commissioners appointed Joel Evans of Blodgett to another four-year term on the Riverside Regional Library Board. His former term expired June 30.