County approves emergency‑backup grant application as community partners deliver $90,000 solar trailer

The Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on June 30 approved a resolution authorizing the county Emergency Management Agency to apply for a Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) to buy an emergency battery backup bank. The board also designated the emergency management coordinator (Shannon) as the authorized grant representative.

County staff said the proposed battery backup bank would support emergency responders and residents who rely on electrically powered medical equipment during outages. According to the staff presentation, the RBDG application requires no local match.

Separately, a community‑sourced grant and donation totaling about $90,000 was credited by board members and a public speaker, Kenny Olson. Olson told the board a solar‑powered trailer funded by a $90,000 grant had arrived and would be dropped at the sheriff’s office that afternoon; staff planned training and a public demonstration at the July 9 farmers market. Olson described the trailer as having rooftop panels and side arrays and said its battery capacity could power a typical U.S. home for approximately four days in the event of an outage.

Board members thanked Olson and staff for pursuing grant opportunities and supported using the trailer and any battery lending library as an educational and emergency preparedness resource for the community.

The RBDG resolution passed as presented. Staff will proceed with the grant application and follow county procedures for administration if the grant is awarded.