Todd County Emergency Management Director Daniel Smith hopes the county never has to relive the severe weather and tornadoes of December 9, but if it does – he plans to be ready.
In a regularly scheduled meeting on January 26, Smith presented his plan to the Todd County Fiscal Court for future disaster response and emergency assistance.
Smith’s Todd County LEADS (or Local Emergency Assistance and Disaster Services) will be a nonprofit 501c3 organization that will focus on training, rapid coordination of local volunteers, and efficient short and long-term utilization of resources in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
LEADS, in addition to the state’s Long Term Recovery Group, will be activated once the governor or President issues a disaster declaration.
Smith reports the new group is in the planning stage and he hopes to have an organizational meeting within the next month.
Todd County Clerk Cindy O’Bryan told magistrates that the clerk’s office is up and running once again after being shut down for a statewide software update during the holidays.
The Elkton Senior Center will soon undergo a renovation.
Todd County Judge Executive Todd Mansfield told magistrates Friday that construction bids for the project are due February 6. Discussion and selection of the contractor will follow the submission of the bids.
The county received a $800,000 90/10 matching grant to renovate the center.
In other news, magistrates approved the purchase of a new $12,000 freezer at the senior center.
Additionally, magistrates gave their stamp of approval on the annexation of 3 parcels of land into the city of Guthrie.
12.229 acres at the northeast corner of Old Railroad Road and Highway 79 where PTL Logistics is building a warehouse, 10.8 acres that includes a gravel lot at the state line on Highway 79, and a 1-acre tract just north of the gravel lot that includes a residential property.
As standard procedure, the county’s Fiscal Court must also approve any municipal annexations.
State tire amnesty days have been scheduled for March 7, 8, and a ½ day on March 9 at Martin Industries located at 206 Elk Fork Road in Elkton.
TCCHS Students Leah Glenn, Anna Mallory, Mollie Skipworth, and Addison Johnson contributed to this story.
