Marion County staff: RCMD grant will fund weather radios; planned safety meeting postponed

County staff told Marion County commissioners in Hamilton that a previously scheduled safety meeting had been canceled because invited presenters backed out and that the item will be rescheduled before the severe-weather season. Staff said they intend to invite the National Weather Service and local power providers when the meeting is rescheduled.

Staff also reported the county was awarded an RCMD grant of about $5,000 to support a weather-radio distribution project. Staff described two radio options: a plug-in tabletop model similar to units widely distributed in the past, and a portable model with a hand crank, small solar panel, rechargeable AA-style batteries, AM/FM radio, and an LED strobe/flashlight. The portable models described are battery- and crank-powered and would allow residents to keep radios in vehicles or storm shelters.

The staff member said unit costs are about $39 to $49 each at current pricing and that free shipping was available if orders were placed before Thanksgiving. The staff member said the grant amount would allow purchase of “a couple hundred” units at those prices, and that staff would provide the commission with the specific model, quantities, and cost breakdown at the next meeting if the commission wanted the item on the agenda.

A commissioner told staff to place the model and quantity information on the next agenda for formal consideration and purchase authorization. The transcript records a direction for staff to return with model numbers, quantities, and purchase details; it does not record a formal procurement vote in the provided segment.