2020-15RESOLUTION NO. 2020- 15
COUNCIL MEMBER HALL INTRODUCED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, the City of Blair has a Volunteer Fire Department and Volunteer Rescue
Squad Department that provide Emergency response services to the City of Blair and Blair Rural
Fire District.
WHEREAS, the Governor of Nebraska issued several executive orders relating to COVID-
19, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services issued a Directed Health Measure
relating to COVID-19, and Three Rivers Health Department issued several orders regarding
COVID-19.
WHEREAS, the City of Blair and Blair Rural Fire District are directly impacted by the
spread of COVID-19.
WHEREAS, the Blair Volunteer Fire Department and Blair Volunteer EMS have
volunteers that have been exposed to COVID-19 or are at risk of being exposed to COVID-19 in
the line of duty.
WHEREAS, commencing on March 16, 2020, the City of Blair and Blair Rural Fire
District will provide a grant program administered by the City of Blair to a volunteer firefighter or
member of the rescue squad of the City of Blair who is covered under the City of Blair's
and/Workers' Compensation Coverage has been exposed to COVID-19 in the line of duty as a
firefighter or member of the rescue squad of the City of Blair and the volunteer firefighter or
member of the rescue squad has been quarantined or required to self -quarantine by the City of
Blair, a law enforcement or governmental health authority, or a physician as a result of their
exposure to COVID-19.
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Grant Program is to only provide compensation to those
people who are not being compensated by his or her employer during the quarantine period.
Therefore, any person applying to for this Grant Program must furnish proof from his or her
employer that they employer paid the employee no funds for the quarantine period.
WHEREAS, the total amount of the Grant Program is $100,000.00 and the maximum
stipend amount per occurrence is $120.00 per day for ten (10) days ($1,200.00). A person is limited
to a maximum of two (2) occurrences under this Grant Program. Once the total amount of the
Grant Program is exhausted, the Grant Program shall cease and terminate unless extended by City
of Blair City Council and Blair Rural Fire District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the COVID-19 VOLUNTEER
EMERGENCY RESPONDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM is hereby adopted and approved by the
municipality and the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Blair are hereby authorized and directed
to execute the same on behalf of the municipality.
COUNCIL MEMBER HALL MOVED THAT THE RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED AS READ,
WHICH SAID MOTION WAS SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ANDERSEN. UPON
ROLL CALL, COUNCIL MEMBERS SHEPARD, STEWART, RUMP, WILLIS, WOLFF,
ANDERSEN, JENSEN AND HALL VOTING "AYE" AND COUNCIL MEMBERS NONE
VOTING `NAY", THE MAYOR DECLARED THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION PASSED
AND APPROVED THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL 2020.
BY:
ATTEST:
BRENDA WHEELER, CITY CLERK
(SEAL)
CITY OF BLAIR, NEBRASKA
RICHARD HANSEN, MAYOR
2
STATE OF NEBRASKA )
) ss:
WASHINGTON COUNTY )
BRENDA WHEELER, hereby certifies that she is the duly appointed, qualified and acting
City Clerk of the City of Blair, Nebraska, and that the above and foregoing Resolution was passed
and adopted at a regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council of said City, held on the 14th day
of April 2020.
BRENDA WHEELER, CITY CLERK
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COVID-19 VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONDER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
This grant program provides funds to Blair Volunteer Fire Department and Blair Volunteer EMS
whose volunteer firefighters and volunteer rescue squad members are required to be in
quarantine as a result of exposure in the line of duty to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19).
For purposes of this program, the terms "volunteer firefighter" and "rescue squad member" mean
persons who have been approved and enrolled in those capacities by the City of Blair, acting as
the duly constituted authority in control of the Blair Volunteer Fire Department, Blair Rural Fire
District and/or Blair Volunteer EMS, in accordance with state law.
Any Volunteer Firefighter or Rescue Squad Member is eligible for a grant under this
program if all the following are true:
1. The Volunteer Firefighter or Rescue Squad Member is covered under the Cite of
Blair and Blair Rural Fire District's Workers' Compensation Coverage.
2. The Volunteer Firefighter or Rescue Squad Member has been quarantined or
required to self -quarantine by the City of Blair, a law enforcement or governmental health
authority, or a physician as a result of their exposure to COVID-19.
3. The Volunteer Firefighter or Rescue Squad Member received no compensation
from his or her employer for the period of quarantine.
For cacti individual providing firefighting or rescue squad services to the City of Blair and
Rural Fire District who meets these criteria, the City of Blair will pay a stipend of 120.00 per
day for ten (10) days ($1,200.00) per occurrence, while the individual is actually
quarantined. A person is limited to two (2) occurrences. The person requesting the grant must
also provide proof from his or her employer that the employer did not pay the employee during
the quarantine period. Grant funds distributed must be paid by the City of Blair to the volunteer
firefighter or rescue squad member. Funds will be paid as a grant and cacti recipient shall have to
furnish the City with a W-9 and then receive a 1099 mise. form for Federal tax purposes.
Any volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member who wishes to request assistance under
this program must do so by contacting the City of Blair HR director through email. The City HR
Director will forward an application to be filled out by applicant to shore sufficient detail and
eligibility for assistance and proof that the volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member was on
the rolls of the member at the time of the exposure, including current hourly compensation. A
volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member may apply for the grant at any point after the
volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member has been quarantined. The total amount allotted
by the City of Blair and Blair Rural Fire District to this grant program is SSI 00,000.00. Once
those funds are paid, the program will be closed to further grants. Grants will be processed and
paid in the order that applications are received and approved by the City of Blair HR.
If you have any questions about the program please contact Rodney Storm, City
Administrator at rstorYrr[ablainnebraska.org or 402-426-4191, or Jessica Mavis, HR Director, at
jniavis da blai cbraska.org o►•402-426-4191.