Utah APWA Public Works Mutual Aid Interlocal Agreement
FAQs Mutual Aid Interlocal Agreement for Utah Public Works Emergency Management
Public Works is recognized as a first responder for emergencies and disasters by presidential executive order (Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5)). Public works departments and related agencies are typically the first to respond and the last to leave for most if not all major disaster events. This is especially true in large events such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and a host of other natural and manmade events. A public works department or related agency can quickly be overwhelmed in a large event. For this reason, it’s important that we all help each other during disasters and large-scale emergencies. This is when the Utah Public Works Mutual Aid Interlocal Agreement creates a strong public works alliance of participating members and becomes a very valuable tool.
What does the Agreement do?
The purpose of this Agreement is to assist local governments in helping one another in times of need. It provides a method whereby a local government or agency that has sustained damage from a natural or man-made disaster can obtain emergency assistance, in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services, from other participating agencies.
The Agreement provides procedures for assistance and reimbursement of expenses for public works. It supports and complements the Utah Mutual Aid Agreement (UAC R704-2).
Are we obligated to help if another agency requests our assistance?
No, each Participating Agency in the Alliance is not required to render assistance to another Participating Agency in during times of need. Every Participating Agency maintains their right of refusal for whatever reason they may have.
Can we make changes to the Agreement before we sign it?
No, not at this time. In order to ensure the timely implementation of this agreement with multiple partners, the agreement needs to be approved as is. However, the agreement does include provisions for making changes in the future.
The agreement was assembled and prepared with the help of the former Utah APWA Emergency Management Committee and the Utah chapter of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for allowing us to us the UTWARN (Utah Water, Wastewater Response Network) agreement as a basis for creating our Utah Public Works Mutual Aid Agreement. Performance and legal reviews have included representatives and attorneys from Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, West Jordan and Midvale.
Who should sign this Agreement?
All local government agencies, service districts, and state agencies that can provide and/or would need public works assistance after a natural or man-made disaster.
After we have signed, what’s next?
We encourage all Participating Agencies in the Alliance to continue to be active supporters of the Agreement by organizing annual individual and/or combined Emergency Management training exercises, making sure that all equipment lists are current, ensuring that you have a representative attend our annual meeting at the APWA Fall Conference, and being ready to assist each other in the event of flooding, severe weather, fires, earthquakes and other natural or manmade emergencies.
Participating members include:
American Fork, Blanding City, Bluffdale, Bountiful City, Box Elder County, Centerville City, Cottonwood Heights, Draper City, Enoch City, Fruit Heights, Greater Salt Lake Municipal Service District (Brighton, Copperton, Emigration Canyon, Kearns, Magna, Unincorporated Salt Lake County, White City), Herriman, Holladay, Layton City, Iindon City, Mapleton City, Midvale City, Millcreek, Monroe City, Murray, North Salt Lake City, Pleasant View City, Provo City, Riverton City, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Sandy, Santaquin, South Jordan, South Salt Lake City, Spanish Fork City, Trans Jordan Landfill, Utah County, Weber County, West Jordan City, West Valley City and Woods Cross.
For more information regarding our Utah Public Works Mutual Aid Agreement, please contact:
M. Leon Berrett, P.E.
Salt Lake County Public Works Operations Associate Director
604 West 6960 South
Midvale, Utah 84047
Office Phone: 385-468-6129
Email: lberrett@slco.org
Or
Matt Cassel, P.E.
City Engineer for Salt Lake City
349 South 200 East, Suite 600
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Office Phone: 801-535-6140
Email: matthew.cassel@slcgov.com