Mineral County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator George Gupton was on hand at the Friday meeting of the county commissioners to provide the commissioners with a notice of intent for the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Homeland Security Grant Program.

According to Gupton, the notice of intent is a document that must be signed by the county commissioners in order to express the counties interest in utilizing the specific grant funds.

“The first one (Emergency Management Performance Grant), is one that I use every year to pay half of my salary and expenses and I get along with them ok,” Gupton said.

“The numbers are the same as last year except I just added two dollars just to round it off.”

Gupton elaborated that he added $2,500 worth of equipment and installation cost for an Emergency Operation Center.

“The match for that would be a soft match and I can come up with enough through LAPC to match that,” Gupton said.

An in-depth application will later be required for the Emergency Management Performance Grant, however Gupton said the letter of intent must be signed in order to participate in the grant process.

Gupton then elaborated on the Homeland Security Grant, which is also used with the intent of developing an EOC in the county.

“Now with an EOC you would traditionally want a point of radio contact and internet contact for six to eight people with room for them to sit and displays for them to look at and write stuff on,” Gupton said. “This would support a large emergency operation.”

Gupton said he has a list of things he would like to purchase in order to set up an EOC at the Superior Fire Hall and he worked with SVFD Chief John Woodland to add to the list.

The Homeland Security Grant will enable the county to purchase the needed equipment to set up the EOC in the event of a large emergency in the county.

“This grant is 100% reimbursed,” Gupton said. “And again this is just a notice of intent and whether or not we actually apply for the grant remains to be seen but this is just a letter of intent. With this grant we would not be on the hook for any money.”

After further discussion on the matter, Commissioner Duane Simons made a motion to sign the notice of intent for both grants. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Laurie Johnston and passed unanimously.