(Spirit Lake)– Recent accidents involving trucks hauling fertilizer have Dickinson county’s emergency management officials looking at starting up a spill response unit.
Emergency Management Coordintor Tim Kinnetz says such a unit would be equipped with a computer with software regarding trucks, trailers and materials. It would also include some clean-up equipment.
Kinnetz says such a unit would be used to clean up minor spills and help control major ones until the regional hazmat team from Sioux City could arrive.
Kinnetz and his assistant, Kate Wittrock, presented the proposal to the board of supervisors Tuesday. They directed Kinnetz and Wittrock to meet with the county’s fire chiefs to get their input…since they’d be the ones using the equipment.
Kinnetz didn’t give a cost estimate for such a unit…but said funding would be available through state and federal sources.
