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Edwardsville took a step forward in preparedness Monday when it showed its support for a Wyandotte County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

As one of 38 jurisdictions to be included in the plan, which includes Wyandotte County cities, school districts and private non-profits, Edwardsville will now be eligible for pre- and post-disaster mitigation grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“This is a really important plan for the county,” said Bob Evans, director of Wyandotte County Emergency Management, during his presentation to the council. “Mitigation planning, thinking ahead when bad things happen to the community. How could you have reduced the risk, the harm, the damage?”

The city had been working with Bonner Springs and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County to prepare the countywide plan, which focuses on identifying mitigation actions that can be implemented to reduce harm to people and property from future hazardous events.

There are no mandatory actions or costs with approving the plan, Evans said, but rather the goal is to give various entities a tool for creating a plan specific to their needs as well as providing assistance when it comes to grant applications.

As an example, Evans mentioned the county’s most recent mitigation grant that involves building storm shelters at Camp Naish.

“Looking at Camp Naish and the number of kids up there every summer, there are not enough places to go (in case of an emergency,)” Evans said. “We put together a proposal and now there’s a million worth of grant money now underway in construction there.”

At the Feb. 22 meeting when the issue first came before the council, City Administrator Michael Webb said if the resolution was approved, one area to look at in Edwardsville would be a back-up plan for governmental operations.

“In a disaster scenario if ever we have an incident in the southern part of the city, it would eliminate all governmental activities in the city,” Webb said, referring to City Hall and the police and fire departments all being located in that area. “We could take the fire station number two and set up emergency operations for the city. Also, we realize we don’t have generators for all facilities. Things like that can be looked at.”

The council approved the resolution supporting the mitigation plan, 5-0.

In other business, the council:

• Approved, 5-0, minutes from the Feb. 22 meeting.

• Approved, 5-0, payment of bills totaling $228,321.17.

• Heard a complaint from Edwardsville resident Kimberly Alberico regarding a large amount of prescription drugs she discovered while walking Edwardsville’s streets.

Alberico said she and her son were walking home and came across a car parked on the street in front of the fire department. In the trunk she could clearly see a large amount of prescription drug bottles strewn about and not secured.

“I’m concerned as a parent, as a citizen, what other drugs were in there that could have been taken,” Alberico said, adding that teenagers frequent the area and could have taken some of the drugs.

Interim fire chief Mark Mathies said the car was used as part of a demonstration in conjunction with Bonner Springs for the fire science program at Johnson County Community College. He said the car had been demolished that day and was parked over night before it could be towed away.

City administrator Michael Webb said not only were the prescription drugs a concern, but he said the sharp metal objects and glass left over from the demolition was a problem.

“This is something we don’t want repeated,” Webb cautioned about getting the vehicle towed the same day as the demolition next year. “We will work harder to ensure that doesn’t happen again.”

• Heard a report from Webb regarding several Edwardsville projects.

Webb said construction at Woodend Road and Interstate 435 would begin March 29, with several ramp closures. Ramps of the east side of the interstate would be closed April 5 for 8-10 days and ramps on the west side of the interstate would be closed April 13. He said the expected end date for the project was Aug. 3.

As for the 110th Street project, from Riverview Avenue to Interstate 70, Webb said the final right-of-way acquisition was finalized and the city would not have to proceed with the condemnation process. Webb said this could mean the project gets moved forward, but no dates have been determined.

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