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Commission approves $122,926 upgrade to tornado sirens with two‑way monitoring
Summary
The commission authorized funding and implementation for upgrades to 10 tornado siren locations, adding dual radio and cellular capability and two-way monitoring; the project was reported to come in under the originally budgeted $160,000.
The Ottawa City Commission on March 26 approved funding and authorized staff to proceed with upgrades to the city’s tornado siren system that add cellular capability and two-way remote monitoring.
City staff said the project covers 10 sirens (five full upgrades and three partial upgrades) and adds both radio-frequency and cellular activation, a two-way digital controller and web-enabled monitoring. Staff told the commission the upgrade will allow remote acknowledgment of activations and permit a silent diagnostic test of the system to confirm functionality without sounding the sirens.
Director of Emergency Management Tom Winters, who addressed operational questions, said the system’s new two-way capability will enable staff to verify which sirens actually activate and to email notifications when sirens are tested or triggered. Winters explained sirens are primarily an outdoor notification tool and encouraged residents to maintain a weather radio or other interior alerting methods. On-warning practice, he said sirens are designed to run two minutes and an additional activation should prompt residents to seek shelter and follow media updates.
City staff said the project budgeted $160,000 originally but final cost estimates came in lower at $122,926.35; staff proposed using the 2024 budgeted $80,000 plus available stability/outlay fund balance to cover the remainder. Dr. Landis (finance staff) explained that unused 2024 budget authority rolled into the beginning fund balance and that the stability/outlay line provides the necessary expenditure authority.
Commissioner motion and second were recorded and a roll-call vote followed. Commissioners recorded as Yes were Commissioner Crowley; Commissioner Skidmore; Commissioner Koehler; Mayor Pro Tem Clayton. Mayor Allen was absent. The chair announced the motion passed.
Staff said weekly noon tests will continue and the new system will supplement those tests with silent diagnostics and improved reporting to emergency personnel. Staff recommended proceeding with purchase and implementation upon commission approval.
