Linn County preliminarily approves FY26 emergency management budget focused on siren maintenance and staffing

Linn County’s budget committee preliminarily approved fiscal year 2026 appropriations and revenues for Emergency Management totaling about $1,289,467 during its Jan. 17 meeting.

The approved amount reflects the department’s request to fund operations, siren-system maintenance and staffing. Finance Director Don Shindrich reported, “The requested proposed appropriations for emergency management is $1,289,004.67.”

The budget matters because the county operates a large siren network and maintains HAZMAT response capabilities that require recurring contracts, vehicles and reserves. Emergency Management officials told the committee the FY26 request mostly follows budget guidelines but includes unavoidable increases tied to rent and insurance.

EMA Coordinator BJ (as identified in the meeting) described staffing and near-term changes: the office includes two non‑bargaining employees (the coordinator and administrative assistant Dawn Nelson) and four bargaining-unit employees. BJ said, “Tom Ulrich will be retiring on February 28. His last day in office will be January 31.” The department said it has hired Pete Brisbine as the new operations and readiness officer.

Officials outlined the largest budget drivers. BJ listed lease increases for multiple facilities, including two properties on Robins Road, space at Kirkwood Community College and an airport hangar; an overall health-insurance projection of about 11 percent; and salary and benefits adjustments (nonbargaining 4 percent, bargaining 3 percent). Siren-related costs shown in the presentation and the budget included a $175,200 annual operations and maintenance contract with B and R Enterprises (a three‑year contract through Jan. 4, 2028), a siren‑insurance line of $27,004.31, siren batteries budgeted at $25,000, and ongoing vehicle costs for a van and a bucket truck used for siren support.

The department listed insurance totals (ICAP premium estimate of $73,014 and a workers’ compensation premium with PMA of about $10,350) and said revenues would include county allocation, HAZMAT retainers (the department proposed raising regional HAZMAT retainers by $15,000 starting in FY26), and grant reimbursements such as EMPG, HMEP and HSGP if awarded.

Shindrich and BJ emphasized uncertainty about federal and state grant awards. BJ said the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) has a federal cap and that award amounts for FY26 were not yet known. The department reported an ending FY24 fund balance of $569,350.57 and said it maintains a target reserve of roughly 25 percent of expenditures for emergencies.

Board members asked planning questions about longer-term issues tied to siren ownership and facility location. One member asked whether the county’s maintenance of sirens previously belonging to the Duane Arnold plant might change if that facility restarts; BJ said there had been “no real discussion” about future ownership and that the department did not yet know whether responsibilities would transfer. On the question of moving EMA operations to a Highway 13 facility, BJ said, “I don't foresee any issues with us being out on Highway 13.”

The committee recorded a motion to approve the FY26 EMA appropriations and matching revenues of approximately $1,289,467; the motion was seconded and the committee carried the motion.

Committee members also used the meeting to thank retiring EMA staff member Tom Ulrich for long service. Multiple speakers praised Ulrich’s decades of work with EMA and the HAZMAT team.

Votes at a glance

• Motion to approve Emergency Management FY26 appropriations and matching revenues of approximately $1,289,467 — moved and seconded; motion carried. (Transcript did not record a numeric roll-call tally.)

Clarifying details and outstanding items

• EMA proposed appropriations reported as $1,289,004.67 in the presentation; the figure approved in the motion was recorded as $1,289,467. The difference was presented as part of the budget review. • Siren operations and maintenance contract: $175,200 annually (vendor: B and R Enterprises; contract through Jan. 4, 2028). • Siren insurance line: $27,004.31; siren batteries: $25,000; ICAP insurance premium estimate: $73,014; PMA workers’ compensation estimate: $10,350. • Ending FY24 fund balance: $569,350.57; target reserve: approximately 25 percent of expenditures. • Budget amendment figures discussed for FY25 were unclear in the transcript and are not specified here; the meeting indicated an amendment would cover siren projects, equipment rentals, lease increases and payout of accrued hours for the retiring employee.

Community relevance and next steps

EMA said it will apply for federal grants (EMPG, HMEP, HSGP) when those opportunities open, and flagged that grant awards for FY26 remained unknown. The department will present any required budget amendments for FY25 and include planned siren installations and equipment moves in those amendments if necessary.