JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The Board of Mayor & Commissioners of Marion County have officially approved the re-purchasing of tracking software with grant funds from the Tennessee Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative (TPERI).
Steve Lamb, Director of Marion County Emergency Management, came forward and requested the board approve the re-purchasing of the software for $94,000, in addition to $32,000 for a separate stakeholder software. He recalled coming forward to the board last year making the same request.
TPERI was established as a 501c organization by the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association to help expand and enhance first responder’s skills in handling pipeline related emergencies through training and communication, particularly in rural communities where training for emergency personnel is unavailable. Lamb, who’s also a board member for TPERI, stated since last year, various instructors were hired to help local firemen with training, in addition to the program’s course curriculum being accepted by Tennessee Fire Schools. He also stated all necessary equipment for the program, such as computers for curricular classes , have been purchased. TPERI is currently working towards expanding the training program across the state, where firemen serving rural communities can receive the training they need to tackle pipeline related incidents.
Lamb further stated the county’s Emergency Management’s goal is to help gather memberships with different pipeline and natural gas companies such as Marion Natural Gas, who would participate via an annual fee that would financially support the self-sustaining program. It was added that each company who becomes a member can utilize the software to record and keep track of training progress for all attendees, including the amount of hours each course is held.
“Its going to be rolled out in three phases. The first phase is going to be directed towards the first responder fire departments. And our goal is to eventually be training law officers and 911 staff,” said Lamb.
Steve explained each class is eight hours in length and is free of charge for any personnel looking to participate. A total of twelve departments in the county were noted to be affected by both gas and liquid pipelines, drawing further the need for the grant to be approved.
The board unanimously agreed to approve the TPERI grant once again for this year, with the funds to go towards the re-purchasing of training and stakeholder software needed for the program