Ottawa County Sheriff's Office

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Emergency Management

Region 6 Homeland Security Grant Governing Board

Who Serves on the Governing Board?

When and where does the Governing Board Meet?

Meeting Minutes

The Department of Homeland Security has identified seven national priorities to strengthen the preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disaster, and other emergencies.

  1. Implement the National Incident Management System & National Response Plan
  2. Expand Regional Collaboration
  3. Implement the national Infrastructure Protection Plan
  4. Strengthen Information Sharing and Collaboration Capabilities
  5. Strengthen Interoperable Communications Capabilities
  6. Strengthen CBRNE Detection Response and Decontamination Capabilities
  7. Strengthen Medical Surge and Mass Prophylaxis Capabilities.

Michigan has created seven Homeland Security Regions following current Michigan State Police District boundaries and Office of Public Health Preparedness Bio-Defense Network Regions.

Ottawa County is in Region 6 along with Clare, Ionia, Isabella, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, & Osceola counties. These 13 counties form The Region 6 Homeland Security Grant Governing Board.

To meet the federal priorities, each Regional Governing Board will:

  • Ensure that planning and preparedness efforts of the region are coordinated and integrated so that activities are consistent, non-duplicative, efficient & effective
  • Ensure that the Board provides a forum for co inventing , recording, and supporting the coordination of regional homeland security efforts
  • Develop and coordinate plans and strategies for regional; concept of operations
  • Develop a Regional Homeland Security Strategy that is consistent with the goals and objectives of the State Homeland Security program.

Region 6 Governing Board has formed the following sub-committees to work on projects to meet both state and federal goals.

  • Planning
  • Equipment
  • Training
  • Exercising
  • Law Enforcement
  • Interoperable Communication
  • Citizen Corps

Who Serves on the Governing Board?

The Region 6 Homeland Security Governing Board is composed of a representative from each county in the region, plus one representative for each of the following: small cities, large cities, Region 6 Bioterrorism, and Health Departments.

Members of the Governing Board

C – Chair
VC –Vice Chair
S – Secretary 		P – Primary
A – Alternate
NV – Non Voting

Pos Last Name First Name Jurisdiction
P Bulson Tim At Large-BT Coord
P Devries Doug At Large- Small City
P Szotko Gary At Large-Large City
P Haner Bret At Large-Public Health
A Wheeler Craig City of Ionia
P Larson Bill Clare County
A Searfoss Nicole Clare County
S Marek Abby Ionia County
A Milliard Jani Ionia County
A Feldhouser Cpt. Glen Isabella County
P Griffis Marc Isabella County
P Barthels Sue Kent County
A Stewart Jack Kent County
A Dodge Kraig Lake County
P McClellan Mac Lake County
A Barnett Chief Mark Mason County
P Taranko Wally Mason County
P Dowdy Daniel Mecosta County
A Sutherby Allen Mecosta County
NV Thompson Michelle MMRS Program Planner
PIO McCoy Jerry Montcalm County
A Waldron Sheri Montcalm County
NV Wesley Mark MSP-EMHSD
NV Whitsett Lt. Brian MSP-EMHSD
A Purchase David Muskegon County
P Stout Dan Muskegon County
A Baessler Deb Newaygo County
P Kolski Russ Newaygo County
A Frick Jerry Oceana County
P Mendenhall Ken Oceana County
VC Watkins Mark Osceola County
A Young Steve Osceola County
C Smith Bill Ottawa County
A Thomas Beth Ottawa County

When and Where Does the Governing Board Meet?

The Governing Board meets at Big Rapids Department of Public Safety, 435 Michigan Ave., Big Rapids MI 49307. Meetings begin at 10:00 AM. and are open to the public.

The 2006 Meeting schedule is:

Monday, July 24, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Monday October 23, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Monday December 18, 2006