By TODD HELBERG
cnedit@crescent-news.com
While some Homeland Security funds have gone unspent, that's not been a problem for local counties.
In fact, the Defiance area's rural counties have been receiving less money in recent years.
The distribution of Homeland Security funds began in 2002 after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The idea was to make emergency response departments -- from rural counties to major cities -- better able to address terrorist attacks.
But according to Homeland Security figures, nearly $5 billion of the $16.04 billion that has been allocated nationwide since 2002 has gone unspent by police and emergency responders.
Local county officials, however, haven't had any problems spending the money. They've used their share to purchase equipment that could be used in terrorist responses and normal emergencies.
"We have everything from our previous grants spent and we have everything in this most recent grant budgeted," said Defiance County public safety coordinator Julie Fowler.
Defiance County used part of this fiscal year's share $49,759 to buy a pickup truck and trailer for its hazardous materials equipment.
The county does have $24,000 which hasn't yet been spent, Fowler explained, but that's only because an upgrade for 911 center communications proved to be much more expensive than thought. She said a county advisory committee on spending Homeland Security money will meet in August to determine how to spend the money, although it likely will be related to communications.
Fulton County reports a similar situation with Homeland Security funding.
EMA director Bob Hartman said about half of his county's allocation ($36,331) has been spent while the other part has been allocated. Radio communications are being enhanced with the money.
The remaining money will be used to buy portable radios for the county's police and fire departments, according to Hartman.
"It's just a matter of getting bids," he said.
"We're up to speed," said Paulding County EMA director Randy Shaffer, whose county received $62,000 this year. "All of our money is going toward communications and developing a large inner-operable communications project which will allow us to bring every (emergency) agency and ancillary agency, such as county highway, township trustees and the health department, on one common communications system if we have an emergency."
Although some jurisdictions across the country apparently have too much money, local counties' share has been dwindling in recent years.
For example, Defiance County received $165,802 in 2005 and $107,875 in 2006, but only $49,759 this year.
Fowler said this amount may decrease further.
"It will probably drop some more as the state is leaning more toward regionalization," she said. "So, some of the bigger cities will still be getting the bigger amount."
The reason: Homeland Security officials have decided to allocate more money toward high population centers where terrorist attacks are deemed more likely.
Fulton County had an even larger drop, going from $140,155 in fiscal year 2006 to $36,331 this year.
Counties have until Sept. 30 to spend the money each year, or they must return it. But finding ways to beef up emergency responders with the extra cash has not been an issue locally.
Each county has a committee which determines how the money will be spent before it arrives. And, there are usually no shortage of things to buy, especially since local counties have tried to ensure that their purchases can also be used for non-terrorist emergencies.
"All the money we received is going to be used in ways not only for Homeland Security, but in an all-hazards approach," said Hartman. "The bulk of our money has been used to improve our communications. That was one of the objectives of Homeland Security -- to improve inner-operable communications among ourselves and with agencies that might come in to assist us. Radio equipment is employed almost every day."
"We've been very adamant about making sure the things we buy are dual use," said Shaffer. "We did spend some money on contamination equipment for (Paulding County Hospital), but other than that it's been 100 percent on communications."