County receives Homeland Security grant

by Staff Pioneer Times
12 years ago

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Preparing for, and responding to, emergency situations may get a little bit easier in Aroostook County thanks to a financial award from the federal Homeland Security Grant Program.
    Aroostook County Commissioners learned Nov. 21 that the County had received an award of $86,377 to improve preparedness and response for Homeland Security-related events that happen in the state. Vernon Ouellette, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency, secured the funds for Aroostook County.
    “Our law enforcement is going to benefit greatly from this,” said Doug Beaulieu, County administrator. “We have to spend $18,329 of this grant amount for law enforcement-related activities to meet the federal requirements.”
    Additionally,  $8,855 will be used to replace a generator switch at the Aroostook County Jail.
    “We actually had been cited on this matter, but there was no money available from the Board of Corrections to replace the switch,” Beaulieu said.
    Aroostook County Sheriff’s deputies will receive mobile data air cards, at a cost of $9,475, to provide Internet access for the deputies’ laptops while on patrol in their cruisers.
    Madawaska’s Regional Response Team will receive $15,000, while Decon Strike Teams from Presque Isle and Houlton will each get $5,000. The Aroostook County Incident Management Assistance Team will receive $1,500 and the Caribou Community Emergency Response Team was awarded $750.
    The remaining funds will be used for training exercises and support purposes, Beaulieu said.
    In other agenda items, Commissioners:
    • Agreed to change the meeting times from 5:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting in January.
    • Hired Madawaska Police Chief Carol Theriault as a part-time deputy to be used for civil matters.
    • Reviewed the fiscal year 2012 audit for the Aroostook County Jail. Beaulieu said the audit revealed no glaring red flags for the jail. The audit will now be sent along to the Board of Corrections for review.
    The 2013 budget hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in Caribou, while the next regular commissioners meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. in Fort Kent.