County OKs Federal Signal contract for three new warning sirens funded by redevelopment TIF

St. Joseph County commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a Federal Signal contract to add three early outdoor warning sirens in the IEC corridor, funded with tax-increment financing approved by the county redevelopment commission.

"We got a real good price on these sirens, about 153,000 for the 3 of them, which, we thought they were gonna be, at least 80,000 a piece," said Al Kurzet, St. Joe County Emergency Management Agency director, describing the procurement and funding source. Kurzet said redevelopment commission TIF funds will pay for the sirens and that the redevelopment commission included an allowance to cover electrical feed to the poles; it is not yet determined whether the feed will be underground or overhead.

Kurzet said Westshore Services, the county's contractor and a preferred vendor for Federal Signal, is working with the county's information-technology staff and has installed a command center and integrated the system at the PSAP. "As I currently speak, Westshore Services is in our office... and they are installing our command center for these sirens and working with, Richard's people from IT... and they've already completed that at PSAP," Kurzet said.

Kurzet also noted the redevelopment commission separately funded five additional sirens through American Rescue Plan funds; the three sirens approved at this meeting are distinct and paid from TIF proceeds. The commissioners moved, seconded and approved the contract by voice vote. Commissioners voting in favor were Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen and Commissioner Backmeyer.

Meeting discussion did not include the contract's full procurement terms, ongoing maintenance costs or an installation timeline beyond coordination with existing contractors on site.