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Vernon Hills approves automated weather‑alert system tied to National Weather Service
Summary
The Village Board approved a multijurisdictional agreement to install an automated weather‑activation controller that will link sirens to National Weather Service warnings; the village’s share of installation is about $7,000 with roughly $500/year maintenance.
The Vernon Hills Village Board approved Resolution 2025‑042 on Aug. 12 to join an intergovernmental agreement that will install an automated weather‑activation controller linking local sirens to National Weather Service alerts. Chief Kreese told the board the system removes human error in siren activation and will tie all village sirens directly to official warnings.
“We found that through partnership, we could really save some money,” Chief Kreese said, adding the village’s upfront installation cost is about $7,000 and ongoing maintenance is expected to be “around $500 a year.” The system will allow manual activation if needed, he said.
The resolution was approved by roll call. Trustees who recorded ‘Aye’ included Trustee Schenck, Trustee Marquardt and Trustee Lundin; President Tom Cook Jr. also voted in favor. Board members said they supported the project as a cost‑effective safety improvement and noted it should reduce confusion about why sirens are or are not sounding during severe‑weather events.
Staff said the system will be implemented before the village’s transition to LACOM (a consolidated communications arrangement) and will not remove the ability of local staff to activate sirens manually. The project is an intergovernmental effort involving Libertyville, Mundelein and the Countryside Fire Protection District.
