HazMat team asks for 150% increase in funding

BESS SYSTEM

There’s a lot more HazMat there than what we found out. They like to downplay and that’s what they're supposed to do. What I’m supposed to do is make sure we’re aware of it and we’re ready for it if something bad happens.”

Chad Hannum, Fort Madison Fire Chief

LEE COUNTY – The Lee County Hazardous Material team is asking for a bump in support from the county.
Fort Madison Fire Chief Chad Hannum approached Lee County Supervisors on Tuesday about increasing the annual contribution from $10,000 to $25,000. Hannum said currently the county is paying about .30 per person in the county per year but that number around the state is more like $1 per person.
The original agreement reached in 2003 was drawn up for the county to fund the team for $10,000 and they have done that for the past 23 years. Hannum said the money has gone for training, equipment, and operations, while the cities provide the manpower and the training.
“We all know the cost of manpower has gone up considerably over the past 23 years,” Hannum said.
 “The cost of maintaining the equipment has gone up considerably, as well.”
He said Lee County is fairly heavy in industry and in train traffic carrying a wide variety of chemicals and products that include hazardous materials.
He said the teams are currently doing capability assessments with the railroads to take advantage of new technology including mobile apps.
“Getting right to the point, what I’m asking for, respectfully, is an increase in that funding,” Hannum said.
“What I’m requesting is $25,000 which would bring that up to .75 per capita and that will bring up our purchasing power for equipment and supplies.”
Hannum referenced a major incident in July that cost all agencies a combined $120,000 and they are now trying to recoup those funds and lawyers are involved. Hannum said most of the money will go to Donnellson Fire & Rescue because they had incident command.
Hannum said the HazMat team will typically be supplemental support for fire departments who request services and coordinate with those onsite efforts.
Hannum said the team is made up of Keokuk and Fort Madison firefighters, but it is open to county volunteer fire and rescue departments, but he said training times are a hurdle for volunteers.
He said the team is also in the beginning phases of teaming with Burlington for HazMat responses. He said Lee County and Burlington are both recognized HazMat teams by the state.
“This is not a city service. It is a county asset that protects residents, industry, transportation corridors, responders, and the environment,” he wrote in a report handed out to the board.
“The requested adjustment modernizes funding to maintain a critical capability the County already relies upon.”
Hannum said his motivation now is because of the energy infrastructure that’s coming including Alliant’s BESS unit in Wever.
“There’s a lot more HazMat there than what we found out. They like to downplay and that’s what they're supposed to do. What I’m supposed to do is make sure we’re aware of it and we’re ready for it if something bad happens.”
Hannum said agencies county wide “punch above their weight” when it comes to emergency management, in his opinion.
“Across all agencies, Lee County is in good shape, in my opinion,” Hannum said.
The funding comes out of the county’s general basic fund out of the board’s budget.