04-30-07CITY OF OTSEGO
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
April 30, 2007
Roll Call: Otsego City Council: Mayor Larry Fournier,
Councilmembers Mark Thorsted, Jessica Stockamp, Vern Heidner
and Tom Darkenwald.
City Staff: City Administrator Michael Robertson, City Clerk
Judy Hudson, Finance Director Gary Groen and Public Works
Director Brad Belair.
Kurt Niedermeyer of People Service and Steve Berg of Wright
County Emergency Management were present.
Mayor Fournier called the workshop to order at 5:00p.m.
Steve Berg described Emergency Planning in general terms, and
explained the differences between table top exercises and
other planning sessions such as drills or joint exercises.
This session is a table top exercise, which is intended to be
a review of a particular scenario. The idea behind the
exercise is to familiarize everyone with the procedures and
identify areas where improvements are needed.
Steve Berg and Mike Robertson described the scenario. There
has been an early summer morning (6:30 a.m.) tornado which
has rendered the entire City of Otsego powerless, caused
widespread damage, and blocked many roads with debris. Due
to the power outage, the phones do not work, and cell phones
only work erratically as everyone jams the few remaining cell
towers that still stand. The assumption for the exercise is
that power will not be restored for three days.
City officials have to reach City Hall, the Public Works
Building, and the City's water and sewer facilities, open
some form of communications (probably radio) between City
facilities and personnel, get Public Works equipment out to
clear City streets, make certain the sewer and water systems
are working, and communicate with residents, the general
public, and media about the situation in Otsego.
The following items came out of the discussion.
1. Radio base stations should be installed in both sewer
plants so that they can be in easy communication with other
City facilities.
2. The radio base station in the old City garage should be
moved as soon as possible to the new Public Works Building.
3. Though the Emergency Operations Center will start out in
City Hall, at some point in the first day it should be moved
to the Public Works Building if the emergency looks like it
will go more than a few hours.
5. Public Works will clear roads with the same priorities
as are used in the snowplowing policy.
4. With electronic monitoring systems out, People Service
personnel will check all sewer and water installations as
soon as possible. If they need assistance, Public Works
personnel will clear roads or paths to the facilities.
6. If the emergency appears to be a multi -day emergency,
shifts will be set up with City employees so that someone is
always on communications duty.
7. All costs will be noted and receipts retained for
possible reimbursement under State or Federal policies.
8. Add to the plan possible sites for overnight shelters
such as schools, churches, and hotels.
9. Update all addresses and phone numbers in the Emergency
Manual.
Future Actions
1. This discussion will be reviewed at a future department
head meeting to see if any additional actions need to be
taken and to track progress on the items discussed today.
2. The Resident Preparedness Plan will be put on the City
web site after review.
3. Contact the Red Cross to see if they have established
any shelter agreements with anyone in Otsego.
4. Talk with the City Engineer to determine if there are
effective battery backups for the SCADA system.
With no other business, Mayor Fournier adjourned the meeting
at 7:29 p.m.
i'
Mic ael o ertson
City Administrator