Emergency Management Commission approves amendment

    The Washington County Emergency Management Commission approved an amendment to the current fiscal year?s budget at its meeting Wednesday night. The amendment reflects the addition of three separate projects that were not included when the budget was passed last year.  

    One project that was included in the amendment was the connection between the electrical generator at the county jail and the sheriff?s office. The connection was made last July and cost approximately $7,000.

    Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Larry Smith said that the generator at the jail is large enough to back up more than just the jail, which is why it was connected to the sheriff?s office. The reason the matter involves the commission is because the commission is responsible for the Emergency Operations Center, a room on the east side of the sheriff?s office.

    ?If a tornado took out the power, we would definitely need to have our own power supply to coordinate emergency operations,? said Smith.

For more, see our April 15 print edition.