Rankin County OKs replacement of 39 outdoor warning sirens, adds five

Rankin County Board of Supervisors authorized an agreement with Jackson Communications to replace 39 outdoor warning sirens and install five additional sirens, the board said during its meeting. The board approved an installment payment plan tied to completed installations and authorized county staff to ensure site access for construction crews.

The vote follows years of declining reliability for the county's siren network; board members said the existing sirens were installed in 1996 and that only 12 of 39 were working as of a few months ago. County staff told the board they had issued a request for proposals, received three bids and recommended the Jackson Communications agreement. The county will retain the tower-based siren network while continuing its cell-phone–based notification program.

County staff described the payment structure as an installment plan in which the vendor will be paid as units are installed (board members estimated about eight or nine units installed per payment cycle). The board also authorized the county administrator to address site-access issues where crews need to reach existing siren locations. The agreement includes replacing units in the same locations and adding five new sites.

Board members discussed maintenance costs and public preferences, and staff noted they had promoted the county's digital notification system alongside tower sirens at homeowners meetings. The motion to authorize the agreement and payment approach was moved and seconded and carried with the board voting in favor.

The county did not provide a detailed installation schedule in the meeting; staff said installations will proceed in batches and that payment will follow completed installations.