Centralia City Manager Galen Mahle says after discussion on pros and cons, the city has decided to keep its own ESDA unit and not join the Marion County Emergency Management Agency.
Mahle says one of the biggest concerns was the decision by most Centralia ESDA members to resign instead of joining the Salem unit.
“We’re just concerned that we might lose some of that personal touch if it was county-wide as opposed to just a Centralia department,” Mahle said. “So, it was determined by the end of those conversations that Centralia ESDA would continue to operate in the same way with the same folks as it has historically, and we will continue to work with the county when it comes to the county-wide events and mutual aid type of activities when they need extra help.”
Mahle says Bob Moulder will remain in charge of the Centralia ESDA. Mahle doesn’t have a problem with Moulder also keeping his new assistant director position in the Marion County Unit or current Centralia ESDA members also being members of the Marion County agency.
Mahle says there was also concern about handling situations in the Clinton County portion of Centralia.
Meanwhile, without a formal agreement not yet in place, the city has asked for the result of all Salem Emergency Management Agency equipment to be returned due to liability concerns. City Manager Lisa Peck says once the agreement is in place, she has no problem with releasing the equipment.
Marion County Board Chair Steve Whritenour says he now has the memorandum of understanding to combine the Salem unit with the county EMA that was drawn up by City Attorney Matt Wilzbach. It will come up before the law enforcement committee next Tuesday night and the full county board meeting later this month.
