Mobile County Gets Regional Innovation Award

Posted on: Jan 17th, 2012 | Announcements

The Mobile County Commission won the Norman J. Walton Sr. Regional Award for innovative problem-solving, announced at a regional meeting late Thursday. The award recognizes the Mobile County Commission for the unique collaboration to develop a county-wide disaster notification system started last year. ?When you start involving multiple governments to promote the welfare and benefit of citizens of the region, that?s just fantastic,? said Russell J. Wimberly, executive director of the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC), which gives out the award. The county last year bought the hardware for an automated notification system that called or texted information during an emergency. It was unique, however, in that it crossed political and municipal boundaries by requiring other entities to provide the manpower and expertise for the system. Not only did the proposal dramatically cut costs, but it greatly increased the reach and effectiveness of the system. ?We listened to the people and it made sense that we needed to be more prepared,? said County Commissioner Mike Dean, who championed the project. ?But since cost was a factor, we came up with a multi-jurisdictional plan.? Eight entities have signed an agreement for access to the system. It will be their responsibility to initiate the notification procedure in the event of an emergency or disaster. Those entities are the Towns of Mt. Vernon and Dauphin Island, and the cities of Citronelle, Saraland, Prichard, Chickasaw and Satsuma. Also on board is the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency, a countywide agency that is independent of the Mobile County Commission. ?The proposal puts the responsibility for evaluation and response in the hands of the emergency responders, while we provide the resources to make it happen,? said Mobile County Commission president Connie Hudson. The system costs the county about $34,000 a year, compared to more pricey systems that can cost more than $300,000 a year. The system is provided to local partners at no cost to them. ?It?s a win-win,? said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?Everyone contributes to a system essential to the safety and welfare of our citizens.? The Norman J. Walton Award is given to a government agency that uses collaboration and innovation to solve problems and address needs of its citizens.