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Board discusses Lake Cornelia siren maintenance and dry-hydrant problems as zebra mussels complicate firefighting access
Summary
Supervisors reviewed who is responsible for maintenance and insurance for a warning siren at Lake Cornelia and heard from local stakeholders that dry hydrants face zebra-mussel clogging, requiring recurring maintenance and raising ownership questions for future funding.
County supervisors discussed maintenance and long-term responsibility for a storm-warning siren at Lake Cornelia and heard that local dry hydrants used by fire departments have suffered zebra-mussel fouling.
Steve Bean, president of the Lake Cornelia Improvement Association, told the board the current warning system was installed in 2008, cost roughly $18,000 and had a five-year warranty. Bean said the association does not carry insurance on the system because it sits on county land; county staff said Wright County could carry insurance because the siren is on county property. The county reported purchasing replacement batteries for roughly $480 and indicated annual inspections would be needed.
Board members and the conservation director said ownership and maintenance responsibilities remain unclear; staff reported Grama Township trustees were advised they could not take on siren costs under state guidance because of population thresholds. The county previously contributed about 50% of the siren cost from general basic funds earlier in the year, the board noted.
Separately, the board discussed dry hydrants located on or adjacent to county/DNR-managed properties. The Clarion fire chief reported that a pumper truck27s interior screen had clogged with zebra mussels during drafting practice; supervisors were told one of three dry hydrants on the lake is on DNR property managed by conservation. Officials warned that zebra mussels will require recurring maintenance of suction piping and screens, and that the presence of invasive mussels complicates long-term maintenance costs and responsibility.
Supervisors asked electronic-engineering contractors to inspect the siren and provide a maintenance and upgrade estimate; they did not make a final decision on who will pay ongoing maintenance costs but asked staff to seek grant opportunities and report back. The county also noted that outdoor sirens are designed to warn people outdoors and do not replace indoor alert tools such as CodeRED.
