Board hears warnings over spotty county siren coverage as contractor work stalls

The Washington County Board of Supervisors spent substantial time reviewing the county’s outdoor warning‑siren program and what staff called delays in a contractor’s work to install new radios and repair existing units.

The discussion centered on coverage gaps in rural areas and the contractor’s timeline: David reported that about 13 sirens are operational out of roughly 20 total and that the vendor — the closest contractor based in Columbus — has encountered extensive repair needs and scheduling delays.

Why it matters: board members said functioning sirens remain a core alerting tool for residents without smartphones and called the current pace “not acceptable.” Several supervisors pressed staff for alternatives and stronger outreach so residents receive timely emergency notifications.

David told the board, “They're coming, installing the new radios, making repairs,” and said crews are scheduled to send “two crews over here, weather permitting,” to speed work. He said the original contract timeline was roughly 18 months and that the project is now “well over that,” adding the vendor services other customers and must schedule work accordingly.

Supervisors asked for specifics on rural coverage. One supervisor noted multiple small communities — Avon and the Treebid area near Leland were named — currently lack siren coverage. A board member asked, “How do we move forward to ensure we get sirens out in rural areas?” David said many repairs require site visits and radio tuning, and added that the county is likely to need local staff with specialized training if it expands the number of sirens: “I would say we're probably getting to the point to where we need to hire somebody and send them to school and learn how to work on these things.”

Board members also discussed digital alternatives. Staff reported about 2,400 residents are signed up for the county’s digital notification platform. Board members directed staff to develop a public‑outreach plan to increase digital sign‑ups (suggestions included TV and radio) and to report back with a timeline. One supervisor cautioned that a large portion of the county’s population is not on digital platforms and stressed the need to retain sirens as a parallel system.

The board asked staff to: (a) provide a written timeline and contractor schedule; (b) identify options and estimated costs for hiring in‑county technicians or alternative vendors; and (c) present a public‑outreach plan to increase enrollment in the digital notification system. No formal vote was taken on procurement or contract termination during the meeting.

Board members and staff agreed to return with more detailed cost and schedule information for a future meeting.

Ending

Supervisors framed the matter as both a technical and equity issue: they said the county must maintain reliable emergency alerts for residents who lack smartphones while not leaving the contractor’s delays unaddressed. Staff committed to returning with a written plan and cost estimate for board consideration.