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Officials deny planned trailer staging, clarify FEMA and PFAS activity at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport
Summary
Clerk reports public calls about 350 FEMA trailers at Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport; a district representative described PFAS work in six counties, and Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Bowers told the board FEMA visited to discuss mutual aid and regional staging but said there are no plans to bring trailers unless a disaster occurs.
Public comment at the Nov. 12 Oscoda County Board meeting centered on public concern about FEMA activity and local PFAS work at the Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport.
Clerk Ann Galbraith told commissioners the clerk's office had received multiple calls asking whether FEMA was bringing 350 semi-trailers to the airport authority site. Robert Pallarito, district representative for Sen. Michelle Hoitenga, said there is a map showing six counties affected by FEMA research and recovery and that the Air Force has confirmed PFAS detections in several counties; he said FEMA has been on site to conduct well drilling and water-filtering work.
Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Bowers said FEMA visited Michigan in September to meet with local sites in northwestern, north-central and northeastern Michigan to discuss possible regional distribution centers and that mutual-operating agreements were discussed so locations could be used for equipment and personnel during a disaster. "There are no plans to bring semi-trailers to the area of Northern Michigan, and there will not be unless a disaster were to arise," Bowers told the board, adding that an earlier statement at an Oscoda Township meeting had caused confusion and should be corrected by the person who made it.
Sheriff Grace also reported that Take Back Drug Day resulted in about 45 pounds of drugs turned in for disposal. County Administrator/HR Director Michelle Knepp said questions about employee raises have been received and that raise proposals will be presented at the board's Nov. 26 meeting.
