By David Fenker
david@nmpaper.com
WABASH COUNTY, Ind. – When given only a few days to come up with ideas for a competitive grant application, Wabash County Emergency Management Agency Director Keith Walters had to think fast.
After consulting with county emergency personnel, Walters decided to apply for a new John Deere Gator with a multi-season cab and a slide-in unit for a cot in this year’s Indiana Department of Homeland Security grant program.
Walters asked the Wabash County Board of Commissioners for permission to apply for the grant at the board’s Monday, Aug. 14, meeting.
“We’re looking at a whole-community type grant. Working with multiple agencies – law enforcement, fire/EMS, EMA – I would like to try to get a Gator with a multi-season cab on it with heating and cooling capabilities, a medical slide-in unit which we could put a cot on for transportation in remote areas,” he said.
“If we get the 14-mile trail completed, there are going to be areas of limited access to that, so I thought [the Gator] would be a good thing for that.”
Walters estimated a total cost of $40,000, including the necessary radio equipment and extra night lighting. He said that he has sent out several requests for quotes, but that only one has come in so far.
A notice of intent to apply for the grant is due Friday, Aug. 18, so Walters said he had to come up with something that would be beneficial to the entire Wabash County community in time to ask the commissioners’ permission to apply by Monday, Aug. 14.
Walters also said that EMA currently has a Gator that is around 10 years old.
“We can’t put the slide-in unit in it, and it’s got a canvas tarp over the top of it,” he said.
He hopes to be able to trade in that Gator, but will not know if that is an option until more quotes come in.
“If we get it, this new one will be more usable,” he said.
“It’ll have the cab – they didn’t even have cabs when we got our old one – and doors and the slide-in unit for a cot. Right now, if we have something back in a woods or somewhere else inaccessible, we have to get a truck as close as we can, and then five or six guys carry the cot to where we need it.”
Walters noted that the new Gator could be deployed at festivals or other local events to serve a variety of functions.
He said that the grant is competitive, but that he hopes EMA’s application will be approved.
Additional news from the commissioners’ meeting included permission for a Sept. 9 wedding on the Roann Covered Bridge, permission to close 500 North/Mill Street in Urbana for a car show and a revision of the county’s agreement with Perry ProTech for their printer services.
County Highway Superintendent John Martin presented a request from the Urbana Parks Department to close County Road 500 North, also known as Mill Street, for a car show from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
The commissioners granted permission for the closure, which will be from State Road 13 to Washington Street.
County Coordinator/ HR Director Jim Dils presented the revision to the Perry ProTech agreement, which lowered the cost by removing one printer from the Sheriff’s Department.
“The Sheriff’s Department has determined that they are going to remove one printer, which will lower the cost,” Dils said.
“It will reduce the cost of the lease from $339.46 to $323.86.”