DELHI _ The Delaware County Board of Supervisors approved two grants from the state Office of Homeland Security to cover the cost of purchasing communications and animal-sheltering equipment.
Emergency Services Director Rich Bell said the communications grant for $158,222 would be used
to fund new buildings for the communications centers on the hilltops, unless a different funding source is found, in which case it will go toward microwave-link replacements.
Bell said the 2009 Companion Animal Sheltering Equipment Grant of $24,645 will purchase a trailer outfitted with equipment to care for domestic pets in emergency situations.
Bell said the grant program was established under the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006.
"People won't leave their homes without their pets," Bell said.
The trailer will be equipped with cages, feeding dishes, separation devices and equipment to clean up after the animals.
Bell said the pet-shelter trailer can be used during countywide emergencies or for localized problems.
It will also be available to the humane societies to use when shelters are too crowded to accept additional animals.
Bell also noted there is a memorandum of agreement between Delaware and Otsego counties to share the pet-shelter trailer.
The board also approved a budget transfer to allow the Public Health Nursing Service to change staffing patterns to cover immunization clinics.
Delaware County Public Health Director Bonnie Hamilton said the county will hold the final seasonal-flu vaccine clinic today at the Public Health office in Delhi.
She said there is a shortage of the vaccine.
Hamilton added that the county recently received the first shipment of H1N1 _ or swine-flu _ vaccine and will hold the first clinic for priority groups Nov. 21.
Hamilton said the county received about 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine but added that at one time, the county was told to expect about 14,000 doses.
""""""
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
