In Socorro, It’s All About Training

By John Severance

SOCORRO – Fred Hollis has a challenge ahead of him.
The Socorro County Fire Marshal is in charge of getting all county and city personnel to take emergency preparedness training courses. The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) requires this so if there is an emergency, the city and county of Socorro can apply for more money from FEMA.
“There are 260 people who are eligible to take these courses,” Hollis said after the Socorro County Commission meeting Tuesday night at the County Annex. “If we can get 50 percent, we would be well within the guidelines established by NIMS.”
Hollis said Socorro gets $72,000, but if it falls under the NIMS guidelines “we could get a couple hundred thousand.”
Hollis said all the counties in the state are in the same boat, trying to train its city and county employees in emergency preparedness.
“I hope you support us and help get all of us trained,” Hollis told the commissioners.
Hollis was the main attraction at Tuesday’s meeting. He spoke on behalf of the Socorro County Emergency Responders and the new organization wants the county to act as its fiscal agent.
County attorney Adren Nance said there should be a service agreement in place so the commission decided to do just that, passing a motion that an agreement would be drawn up so the county would act as a fiscal agent for the emergency responders when it comes to applying for grants and not petty cash transactions.
“If we are not doing the little things and just be doing grants, that’s great,” county manager Delilah Walsh said.
In other business, the county:
• Approved the TFC Construction contract for the Veguita Fire Station Improvements.
• Approved and appointed Socorro County fire chiefs.
• Approved a mutual assistance agreement with Dona Ana County.
• Directed Walsh to complete membership with CES, which offers discounted prices for the county in its construction dealings.
• Considered new county jail planning and directed Walsh to begin speaking with Gerald Martin, an Albuquerque construction company.
• Wished a speedy recovery to commissioner Rumaldo Griego, who recently underwent knee surgery.
• Approved Studio D and Government Center Project while in executive session.
• Purchased recycling and cleanup supplies for Loretta Chavira, a La Joya girl who started a recycling project in her community. Walsh said the county will apply for another grant in the spring.
Also, Socorro County was awarded $10,000 in funding through the 2009-2010 Wildlife Risk Reduction Grant Program. The funds will be used to continue the Wildland Fire Education, Prevention and Outreach Activities implemented by the Socorro County Fire Marshal’s Office as part of the Socorro County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. All grant activities identified in the grant application must be completed by June.

In Socorro, It’s All About Training