Coordinator avoids $96k expense for EMA

Union County Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Ver Meer may be new to the position, but he’s already saving the county money. During a meeting last month, Ver Meer announced a $96,000 expense was avoided after conversations were held between him and Creston Waterworks.

Creston’s water tower, maintained by the city utility, is also the site for EMA’s radio tower equipment. While this saves EMA funds by utilizing the tower instead of constructing a full radio tower, one expense on the horizon was an issue of concern in recent months.

Similar to a recent expense in Lorimor, the radio equipment on the water tower would have to be removed when the water tower undergoes scheduled repainting. This was noted to sometimes damage the equipment due to the fragile nature of the communication equipment.

For Lorimor, it cost $69,414 to temporarily remove the equipment. The Creston tower, scheduled for repainting in 2026, would have been higher. That expense was estimated at $96,000. Ver Meer said in earlier meetings how, without a budget amendment, it would be difficult for EMA to make the expense.

Ver Meer spoke with Creston Waterworks General Manager Steve Guthrie about the possibility of lowering costs to to the project. After Guthrie communicated with the contractors hired to repaint the tower, he came back with good news.

Guthrie said the painters agreed to work around the equipment instead of removing the equipment, erasing the entire cost of the project. Even if the equipment is damaged during the painting, replacing them would be a much lower cost than the nearly six-digit figure.

The success placed a much lighter outlook on next year’s budget figures, which was discussed on Wednesday during this month’s EMA meeting. Ver Meer described next year’s budget as “Jo’s budget” (referring to previous coordinator Jo Duckworth) with additions at Ver Meer’s discretion. In future years, Ver Meer said he will be more hands-on.

Part of the budget adds $10,000 to an emergency reserve fund and $3,000 to a vehicle fund. These funds will help EMA avoid surprise expenses in the future.

The budget will receive a workshop on at 4:35 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the EMA building.

In other EMA news...

IT services will be provided to EMA by Mainstay after the commission voted to approve their services for an annual fee of $900. Ver Meer said he worked with Mainstay during his time at the Creston Police Department and recommended them.

A new Union County Emergency Management Facebook page has been opened. The page has already begun notifying the county on incoming snowfall and other weather-related events.