MINUTES
Friday, August 13, 2010 8:00-9:30 am
@ Medallion Room, Holiday Inn, University of Memphis
I. Call to Order
Chair Scott Fleming called the meeting to order at 7:56 a.m.
II. Welcome and Introductions
Our guests including Doris and John Thorpe of Hickory Withe; Jim Wilkinson, executive director of the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium; Chuck Langston, director of Center for Earthquake Research and Information; Rick Bowker, president of Mid South Association of Contingency Planners (MSACP); Rachel Wade, treasurer of MSACP; and Robert Palmissano, past president of MSACP.
III. Roll Call, Quorum Count
The following members were present: Scott Fleming, Elaine Clyburn, Cliff DeBerry, Steve Horton, John Bucy, and Ted Fox. Commissioner Brent participated by telephone during part of the meeting. With his participation, a quorum was established.
IV. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from our last meeting, March 2010, were approved unanimously by the commission.
V. OLD BUSINESS:
A. Update on New Madrid Bicentennial Activities...the Central US Shakeout
Executive Director, Gary Patterson will create a document with a summary of activities that are related to the Bicentennial and distribute to all commission members. The commission will work closely with the state legislature to involve them in the 2011-1012 Bicentennial Events.
In association with the National Level Exercise, FEMA and several state agencies are supporting the Central US Shakeout on April 28, 2011. Commissioner Elaine Clyburn, along with others from the Red Cross, will be attending a meeting next week with other agencies involved in sheltering and mass care to discuss what area they want to focus on during the exercise.
Mr. Jim Wilkinson shared some information on the bicentennial. Several different areas will focus on the event. Tennessee, Marked Tree, Arkansas, and Missouri will all work together. More details to follow as we get closer to the event.
The Seismological Society of America will have its annual meeting April 13-15, 2011 in Memphis at the Cook Convention Center. As part of this event, there will also be a town hall meeting held in the Cannon Center on Wednesday, April 13, with a public forum and information regarding the 1811-1812 earthquake and the 2011-2012 bicentennial event.
B. Update on Reelfoot Lake Display Patterson
The display should be ready by the end of August. The commission will be invited to the official unveiling with other important area dignitaries probably in November.
C. Update on Legislative Bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Kernell Bev Cook & Patterson
Ms. Cook advised the commission that the bill had not come up before the legislature during this past session but it should be addressed during their next session which begins in January. Mr. Patterson was told that it will probably go before a legislative committee before it goes to the full legislature.
D. Update on Motorola Grant Request Patterson
Mr. Patterson distributed information concerning the Motorola community grants. We need to decide on which grant we think is more closely related to the commissions charge and then have someone complete the request. Mr. Pattersons recommendation is that we try to get some funding under Public Safety /training and education. Commissioner Clyburn wanted further clarification on Commissioner Brents involvement with the commission and how that might affect the grant request. Legal Counsel at the UofM advised us that it is not a problem for the commission but does not know if it is a problem internally with Motorola. Commissioner DeBerry said that he was told as long as Brent did not directly ask for the funding, it should not present a problem. If necessary, his participation could be limited by the commission so that he would not work on any committee/project associated with the funds, if awarded. The Executive Committee will get together to work out details for the process for requesting the funding and update the commission soon.
E. Update on Website Patterson
Mr. Patterson has been updating our website with minutes, agendas, and various meeting information. He invited everyone to visit www.itmattersareyouprepared.org. Please email him with information on meetings of interest and he will post them. He looks forward to hiring a new person, hopefully before years end, whose duties will include maintaining the site with his assistance.
VI. COMMITTEE UPDATES:
A. Executive Committee, Chair Scott Fleming
Chair Fleming said the Executive Committee has not met recently. No report at this time.
B. Public Awareness, Education and Communications, Chair Doc Holliday
In Chair Holliday absence, he asked Mr. Patterson to distribute a list of activities that the committee wants to be involved with including:
1. Increasing earthquake awareness in West TN by supporting and participating in Earthquake Town Meetings in Hickory Withe, Brownsville, Union City, and Ridgely communities in West TN. Town Meetings could conceivably be preceded by official WTSSC meetings.
Doris and John Thorpe from Hickory Withe in Fayette County were guests today. They invited the commission to come to the Hickory Withe Community to talk about earthquakes and seismic safety. There will be a Q&A after the presentation. The Executive Committee will coordinate with the Thorpes.
2. Rick Bowker, the President of the Mid South Association of Contingency Planners, was in attendance and made a formal request of the commission to participate in the 2010 EPIC meeting. The meeting is on September 15, 2010 at the FedEx Institute on the UoM campus. They are also requesting us to sponsor part of the event. The WTSSC would have the opportunity to designate a guest speaker. The commission would like to provide financial support of no more than $2,000 to the event, if approved by vote.
3. Developing an earthquake factsheet through the commission for distribution to the public and private sectors.
4. Developing a method to support Earthquake Education in K-12 classrooms.
5. Supporting 2011 Earthquake Awareness Month and New Madrid bicentennial efforts in West TN
a. Partner with CERI to implement 2011 Earthquake Awareness Month activities
b. EQ Awareness Public Service Announcements
c. EQ awareness poster contest for public schools
C. Development
See OLD BUSINESS for comments from Mr. Patterson regarding Motorola funding.
D. Strategic Planning
Commissioner Ted Fox, chair, advised the commission that we have received notification that a $325,000 earmark from the Federal Government and $100,000 in funds from Shelby County Government have been approved. The funds will be used for a seismic assessment of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis (MED) and a high altitude assessment of the Vasco Smith County Administration Building. WTSSC will participate as an oversight committee.
VII. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Nomination for 2010-2011 Vice-Chair
Doc Holiday was nominated by Commissioner DeBerry and seconded by Commissioner Fox. Discussion will continue at next meeting.
B. Nominations to replace of Barry Moore (Health) and Stan Weinrich (Engineer)
Discussion continued until next meeting.
C. Term Expired for Janice Millsaps. Motion needed to continue thru 2014.
Discussion continued until next meeting.
D. 2011 Commission Unified Meeting
Mr. Patterson would like the commission to invite all state-wide seismic commissions to a meeting to discuss what each group is currently doing and how we can help each other in preparation for the National Earthquake Conference in February 2012. The Development Committee will review and report to the Commission.
E. Recent Earthquake Presentations
Presentations are posted on our website at www.areyouprepared.org
F. Miscellaneous
Mr. Patterson has invited all the TN State Geologists and Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) to our meetings. We would like for them to attend regularly so that we can share information.
G. Budget
There are $12,000 remaining in one commission account that will close effective June 30, 2011. Below are several possibilities for use of those funds:
1. The Earthquake Preparedness and Incident Conference on September 15, 2010
Funds are needed to help off-set the large expense of this meeting. Due to the fact that the date is getting close, action was taken on this request. The commission voted and after unanimous decision, will fund an amount not to exceed $2,000.
2. Senator Mike Faulk (R-Kingsport) and the Maryville Emergency Management Agency have requested funding for a January 2011 meeting of emergency managers and state legislators.
Discussion will continue at next meeting.
3. Senator Alexander has been invited to speak during the 2011 Earthquake Awareness Week in the 2nd Week of February 2011. Commission sponsorship has been requested for the meeting.
Discussion delayed until next meeting.
4. In conjunction with the annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America in Memphis during April 2011, a Memphis Earthquake Town Hall Meeting will be held. They have requested a sponsorship for snacks and drinks.
Discussion delayed until next meeting.
5. Travel funds for meetings where presentations will be made.
Discussion delayed until next meeting.
6. Approval of continuation of current salaries into FY 2011 for Executive Director and Executive Secretary.
Due to time constraints of the meeting, the commission only voted on the Executive Secretarys salary for the next year. FY11 annual salary was unanimously approved for $12,000 + benefits.
7. Request for funding of in-house support staff.
Discussion delayed until next meeting.
H. Proposed performance review of the WTSSC Executive Director.
Discussion delayed until next meeting.
VIII. COMMENTS FROM GUESTS
IX. NEXT MEETING
Our next meeting will be in November at Reelfoot Lake to see the unveiling of our display. Date to be announced.
X. WRAP UP/ADJOURNMENT
The meeting ended at 9:12 a.m.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: Minutes Approved by Commission:
_______________________________ ________________________________
Beverly Cook, Executive Secretary Scott Fleming, Chair Date