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The Clearfield County Local Emergency Planning Commission remains satisfied with the hazardous materials clean up services provided to the county by Eagle Towing and Recovery of Milesburg.
Eagle was contracted to provide Hazmat clean up when the LEPC and county officials voted to disband the Clearfield County Hazmat team. According to previously published Courier-Express articles, the LEPC voted to send a letter to the Clearfield County Commissioners with a recommendation to disband the team at the Oct. 27 meeting.
The Hazmat team's certifications expired July 18. The LEPC had applied for an extension on the re-certification deadline, but the extension was denied. When the team failed to get re-certified, the county entered into a verbal contract with Eagle. State law requires the county to have a certified team ready to respond to emergencies. Eagle had verbally agreed to respond to calls in Clearfield County at no cost. The company operates on a third-party billing system in which Eagle directly bills the companies responsible for any hazardous material spills.
Once the commissioners voted to disband the county team, representatives from Eagle began meeting with County Solicitor Kim Kesner to draft a written contract. The contract is still under review by legal representation from Eagle, but they continue to provide Hazmat services to the county. Members of the LEPC agreed Eagle has been doing a lot of good work in the county at no cost to the taxpayers and the LEPC anticipates no problems with the contract.
Also at the meeting, the EMS, fire, and police sub-committees continue reviewing the Priority Dispatch Field Responder manuals to make recommendations. The EMS committee offered suggestions for changes and additions but wanted to meet with Josh Quigley, deputy director of the Clearfield County EMA, to discuss the manuals. The fire committee recommended four changes but gave its tentative approval.
The police committee hadn't met to discus the manuals yet but were working to schedule a meeting as soon as possible. The police committee also recommended the addition newly appointed Sandy Township Police Chief Don Routch to take the place of Sandy Township Sgt. Kris Kruzelak. Sandy Township had been without a chief since the resignation of the late Bill Beers March 31, 2005. The LEPC bylaws say Kruzelak will have to submit a letter of resignation before Routch can be appointed.
Also, the LEPC announced they have received an Act 168 grant in the amount of $13,290. The money must be obligated to be spent by June 30.
