Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff: pumping-station pumps en route; tornado drill planned; burn-ban policy under review
Summary
County staff told supervisors that replacement pumps for a local pumping station were en route and expected to be welded and operational this week, that the statewide tornado drill will run Wednesday at 10 a.m., and that the county will review burn-ban protocols with fire chiefs and staff.
County employees updated the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors on infrastructure and public-safety items at the March 24 meeting, saying replacement pumps for a pumping station were en route, the statewide tornado drill will occur Wednesday at 10 a.m., and the county will revisit its burn-ban policy.
Why it matters: Pump repairs affect wastewater/stormwater infrastructure reliability; the tornado drill and siren schedule are part of public emergency preparedness; burn-ban timing affects open-burning rules enforced by local fire chiefs.
County staff reported that the replacement pumps were on the way and were expected to arrive at about 10 a.m.; welding was to start the following day and staff expected the system to be operational by Wednesday. The update came after supervisors asked whether needed heavy equipment had been lined up to transport and install the pumps.
Chris, a county employee, told the board: “Today starts severe weather awareness week. So the statewide tornado drill is Wednesday at 10AM, which we will be participating in and setting off the outdoor sirens.” He added that, beginning in April, the county will run monthly siren tests through October.
On the burn-ban process, Chris said local fire chiefs determine when a county burn ban is imposed or lifted and that county staff will meet to review and update policy and procedure. He described current weather forecasts of 40 to 45 mile-per-hour winds and said the grassland fire index remained high, so the burn ban was likely to stay in effect for the immediate period.
No formal board action was taken; staff said further policy work and coordination with the sheriff’s office and the county attorney (as appropriate) would follow.
