2. Homeland Security funds - Laserfiche WebLink

OOVERNMENT County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson MEMO To: County Commissioners From: Greg McDonald, Emergency Manager Bonnie Johnson, County Coordinator Date: July 9, 2003 Re: City/County Homeland Security Appropriations As you may recall from previous meetings or reports from Cass County Emergency Manager Greg McDonald, a number of Homeland Security grants are being made available to state and local governments. Greg McDonald has already received one grant that is currently being disbursed, and two separate appropriations are being made to states in 2003. The appropriation to Fargo/Cass County is expected to be up to $2.5 million. Box 2806 211 Ninth Street South Fargo, North Dakota 58108 701-241-5720 Fax: 701-297-6020 An ad-hoc committee, made up of law enforcement and emergency responders, has been meeting in an effort to prioritize homeland security shortcomings and has determined communications interoperability among public safety agencies to be the number one problem. In plain terms, the radio systems of the various public safety agencies do not communicate well, since they operate on different channels and frequencies. This problem has been discussed for years as the joint dispatch center was being put together, however, the lack of money prevented all agencies from making the necessary leap. It is estimated that the total radio conversion project would cost approximately $5 million. Individual agencies were hard- pressed to provide this type of funding in tough economic times. The Homeland Security funds could provide the financial boost necessary to make this project a reality. In addition, the City of Fargo is writing a grant for a minimum of another $2.5 million dollars to be earmarked for the radio conversion project. This would be a huge step forward in providing an updated communications system for the County and the City and it would turn a fragmented system into a single, seamless communications tool for effective response to any natural or man-made disaster. For your information, I am enclosing two articles that spotlight how other communities are using their Homeland Security funds for similar enhancements, and it is my further understanding, the State of North Dakota plans to use their allotment for updating the state radio system as well.