We’ve already heard about NOAA Weather Radios from two different citizens,
Nolen Cox
and Ken Klanicki.
What are they talking about?
As usual, much of the discussion was in the work session
(8:30 AM Monday 7 Feb 2011), available here in two parts.
In Part 1 staff talks about buying about 5,000 NOAA weather radios so the citizens can get weather news. Low bidder would charge $21.50 per radio.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman and John S. Quarterman
for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
In Part 2, staff notes that the grant would require that the radios can’t be earmarked, so people could come to the county office to pick up radios, and staff proposes to have several community events throughout the community, well-advertised, for people to pick up radios and staff to answer questions about them.
One of the commissioners notes:
That’s almost $108,000 tax money what happens to that grant money if, we say you know, it might not be a good idea […] what happens to that?
It would be paid back for another […]. This money is specifically for […] projects.This time you can see it’s Commissioner Raines who asks:
In your expert opinion is this something that would be most helpful do you think that it’s something that would be vital…?Staff replies that maybe not most valuable, but another tool, and for the price, a good buy.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman and John S. Quarterman
for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
The marks […] indicate I’m not sure what was said. For better sound and better video, ask the Lowndes County Commission to record their own sessions and put them on the web. They already have the equipment; all they have to do is decide to do it.
It’s my understanding that the minutes are made from an audio recording of the meeting. According to the minutes:
NOAA Weather Radios, Purchasing Agent, Lisa Burton, presented the bid, stating that Lowndes County had been awarded $107,500.00 in Hazard Mitigation grant funds for the purchase of 5,000 NOAA weather radios to be distributed free of charge to the citizens of Lowndes County. EMA Director, Ashley Tye, added that the radios would be distributed on a first come, first served basis throughout the community in an effort to put a secondary line of communication in the hands of those that might not be able to go out and purchase a radio. Commissioner Raines asked what would happen to the funding if Lowndes County chose not to accept it. Mr. Tye replied that since it was hazard mitigation funding allocated for local projects, the funds would be assigned to another county. Commissioner Raines asked Mr. Tye if in his professional opinion, the radios would be helpful. Mr. Tye answered that one of the most important items a citizen can own with regards to emergency preparedness is a NOAA radio. Mr. Tye added that price was usually what kept citizens from purchasing a radio and this grant would place radios throughout the community free of charge. Mr. Tye added that the radios were “one more tool in the box” and could be what saves someone’s life.
-jsq
Short Link: