EMA director warns of LEPC fight as agency seeks vehicle repairs, plan updates and continued grant support

Sarah Potts, director of Richland County Emergency Management Agency, told commissioners on Oct. 28 that EMA's 2026 budget carries multiple uncertainties: federal EMPG reimbursements are not finalized, a longstanding $10,000 LEPC contract is up for renewal, and the agency faces vehicle and siren maintenance needs.

Potts said the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) typically covers a portion of EMA salary and operations but that exact reimbursement rates for the coming year remain "up in the air." Potts noted that the county received an EMPG supplemental in the prior year and that the current-year EMPG figure (for 2025) was about $53,726.

The LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) currently provides $10,000 from CERC funds toward the EMA salary under a 10-year contract that expires next year. Potts told commissioners there are voices on the LEPC questioning whether those funds should instead go directly to first-responder training and equipment; she said the contract-length and renewal will be negotiated and that some regional EMA officials told her 10-year contracts are atypical.

Potts also described a vehicle request: EMA's current 2015 Ford Expedition has extensive rust and mechanical needs; she identified roughly $4,500 in rust work plus additional repairs and estimated that about $6,000 would be required to make it serviceable rather than replacing it. Commissioners discussed whether to approve repair funding or pursue a vehicle replacement.

On equipment and maintenance, Potts said the county's 44 outdoor sirens require ongoing upkeep, batteries that typically last 3—5 years and periodic repairs; she estimated the county replaces at least a small number of siren batteries each year. The EMA is proposing modest increases in contract services (Potts mentioned a $4,000 allowance) to update plans that have not been refreshed recently and said she may use an internally hosted, privacy-preserving software tool (identified in discussion as "EF1") instead of an outside consultant for some plan updates.

Commissioners and EMA staff discussed possible LEPC negotiations and whether the $10,000 payment is still appropriate if future CERC funding declines. Potts said she would participate in the renewal discussions with commissioners and committee members.

Ending: Potts asked commissioners to include the EMA requests in budget deliberations and noted she would provide follow-up on vehicle repair estimates, siren battery replacement plans and any contractual/LEPC negotiations that affect the EMA salary contribution.