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Officials say Harmon/Amboy tornado-siren equipment may need replacement; key-access and funding questions remain
Summary
County public safety representatives described potential incompatibility between a new control box and the existing tornado-siren horn near Amboy and Harmon, said they will inspect equipment in May and that the county needs to sort key access and funding before storm season.
Public safety committee members reported follow-up work on tornado‑warning sirens in Harmon and Amboy after a field contact with a vendor and a fire chief.
Kurt, the contractor who "put in the boxes for Amboy," provided information that the existing horn might be out of date or incompatible with a new control box, the committee was told. Committee members and the fire chief planned an on‑site inspection in May to assess whether the horn must be replaced.
Committee members said access to the activation key is limited to a single person and raised concern about who would reach the key during an emergency. "We might have some issues on even getting him to even be able to get out there if there was a situation to arise," a committee member said, urging the group to identify who will hold keys and manage activation procedures.
Funding and logistics: The group said they have identified a suburban vendor who could supply a new siren and will investigate financing options. Members discussed whether the 9‑1‑1 center could be enabled to remotely activate community sirens; the committee said it will look into technical and cybersecurity implications prior to any vendor replacement.
Ending: The committee scheduled a May inspection with the fire chief and the vendor and said it will return with a recommendation on whether to replace the horn or modify the box and with proposed funding sources.
