Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walled Lake council approves HAZ-Alert transponders for six emergency vehicles
Summary
Council approved a budget amendment to equip six emergency vehicles with HAZ-Alert transponders; a fire department presentation estimated a one-time equipment cost of about $3,120 for five additional devices and an annual service contract of about $1,320, with the Community Development Authority funding the purchase.
The Walled Lake City Council approved a budget amendment to equip six emergency vehicles with HAZ-Alert safety transponders after a presentation by the fire department.
The fire chief (presented in the meeting as the department representative) described the HAZ-Alert system as small transponder devices that broadcast alerts to approaching drivers and to compatible travel apps. The chief said Stellantis vehicles from model year 2018 and later, and some Volvo and Volkswagen vehicles, can receive alerts; travel apps such as Waze and Google Maps can also display the warnings. "Over the last 3 years, it's sent out over 3,000 alerts," the presenter said, adding a single vehicle sends roughly 250 alerts per month.
The chief presented costs: about $360 per transponder as a one-time equipment fee and roughly $220 per month per transponder for the service contract. To equip five additional vehicles (the department already had one vehicle equipped), the presenter said the one-time equipment cost would be about $3,120 and the annual service contract would be approximately $1,320. The Community Development Authority (CDA) agreed to fund the purchase, and the city’s general fund was not expected to pay the ongoing costs, according to discussion at the meeting.
A motion to approve the budget amendment passed on roll call with all council members voting yes. The council record shows the rollout will equip a total of six vehicles and that fire department staff will coordinate installation and service activation with the vendor.
Council discussion noted the system’s potential to give drivers extra seconds of warning when approaching emergency scenes and to improve first-responder safety. The vote to approve the amendment was recorded as unanimous.
