Southeast Missouri has a new voice in the state realm of homeland security.

On Monday, Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson announced that he has been invited to serve as a member of the Emergency Responders Committee of the Missouri Office of Homeland Security. There he will work with authorities at the federal, state and local levels to lay out training, select equipment and establish preparedness standards for Missouri's emergency responders.

The invitation comes after Knudtson was recommended for the appointment by the Missouri Municipal League.

"This is big because this part of the state hasn't had representation before," Knudtson said. The mayor also said this will enable him to make sure Southeast Missouri and Cape Girardeau get their "fair share" of the committee's sway over $42 million in grant funding available for homeland security.

Knudtson will be one of 40 committee members from a plethora of state agencies and associations, along with county and municipal government, police, fire, ambulance districts and departments. In addition to its evaluation of the state's emergency training, equipment and preparedness standards, the committee also makes recommendations to the governor regarding the development of Missouri's emergency response capabilities.

Mark Hasheider, assistant chief of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, said that he sees two distinct advantages to having Knudtson on the committee. First, he will be able to communicate his knowledge of the city's emergency systems and its needs to the committee. He can also bring important information on state homeland security policy and practice back to the area.

"As mayor, he has a unique insight and sensitivity to our needs," Hasheider said.

Knudtson will go right to work at his new position. His first committee meeting will be Thursday in Jefferson City.

trehagen@semissourian.com

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