SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

LEGISLATOR WROBLEWSKI LEADS COUNTY LEGISLATURE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVING EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT GRANT

Erie County Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski (D-West Seneca, Cheektowaga) led the County Legislature in unanimously approving a $1.6 million federal Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant for emergency and disaster communications equipment at its September 12 session.

The $1,612,439 National Telecommunications and Information Administration grant will allow the Erie County Department of Emergency Services to enhance the county's ability to manage emergency and disaster situations. No additional county dollars will be required for the grant work.

"The County Legislature has wisely acted to accept this grant funding to provide necessary communications equipment infrastructure to our emergency and disaster personnel," Legislator Wroblewski, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said. "These dedicated men and women not only deserve but require the best communications equipment and facilities possible to help them perform this vital work."

"We are thankful for Legislator Wroblewski and the Public Safety Committee helping with gaining approval for the projects including the 400 MHZ public safety communications system and the live burn firefighter training building," County Commissioner of Emergency Services Gregory W. Skibitsky said. "The support of the committee and the County Legislature has been critical, and the grant will allow us to perform necessary infrastructure communications work, including base stations and repeaters."

"It was sadly appropriate that the County Legislature approved this communications grant funding on September 11, 2008, the seven-year anniversary of the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center," Legislator Wroblewski said. "Emergency and disaster personnel must be able to rely on the communications equipment and infrastructure they use to properly react to such situations and for their own safety. I am pleased that the Public Safety Committee and County Legislature has continued to support this kind of action. We thank our emergency and disaster personnel for the dedicated, difficult work they perform."

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