Counties will have 60 days to apply to the state for more equipment under this year's grant, Howell said, but officials don't yet have a list of what might be approved. The state and federal governments ultimately approve what York County can buy, Howell said.

"It's not just buying what we want," Howell said.

The state will probably stress port security this year, Howell said. Last year, the state kept 20 percent of the $6 million total grant, while 80 percent went to the counties.

Both Howell and York Mayor Eddie Lee want to see more focus on training volunteers and responders so that the equipment purchased with homeland security funds can be put to use. Lee raised concerns last summer that smaller communities didn't have a role in deciding what to buy or who would be trained, even though small-town volunteers are the first responders in most emergencies.

"The money has to get to where the problem is," Lee said.

Federal guidelines and training courses work well for large cities that have paid staffs of thousands, Howell said, but York County depends largely on trained volunteers who can use equipment.

"It does absolutely no good to warehouse equipment if we can't train people to use it," Howell said. "I can bring in a course that runs 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. But I can't get people to go. If I could compensate them for time off work, that would help."

Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols, who represents municipalities on the state counter terrorism council, said cities will have more of a say in the process, but a regional approach is the best way to avoid duplication of services.

"There is just not enough money to do everything in one year," Echols said.

Every county has to come up with a counterterrorism needs assessment. The York County Counter Terrorism Needs Assessment Council will meet April 8. The city of York plans to be represented at that meeting with a list of needs, Lee said.

No state counter terrorism council meeting has been set yet, SLED spokesperson Kathryn Richardson said.

Contact Andrew Dys at 329-4065 or mailto:adys@heraldonline.com

Counterterrorism facts

• The state has a Counter Terrorism Coordinating Council headed by SLED. In addition, there are four regional counterterrorism councils in the state and a counterterrorism needs assessment committee in each county. • The next meeting of York County's counter terrorism group is 2 p.m. April 8 at the Rock Hill/York County Airport. The meeting will be held in the conference room and is open to the public. The purchase of equipment from this year's homeland security federal grant will be discussed. • York County's committee includes Emergency Management Director Cotton Howell, Rock Hill Police Chief John Gregory, Sheriff Bruce Bryant, Ron Greene of Piedmont Healthcare System's Emergency Medical Services and county Fire Marshal Randy Thompson. Howell and Bryant also serve on the Piedmont Regional Coordinating Council. Source: Cotton Howell, York County Emergency Management director.