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Commission approves purchase of hand‑crank weather radios funded by RC&D grant
Summary
The commission approved buying portable, hand‑crank Midland weather radios using approximately $5,000 in RC&D grant money to improve community severe‑weather notification; staff will distribute units and coordinate timing with public outreach in spring.
Marion County commissioners approved a purchase of portable hand‑crank weather radios using funds from an RC&D grant to expand resident access to emergency alerts. County staff described the portable units as having AM/FM, LED strobe, a solar panel and rechargeable battery, and said both they and the plug‑in units link to the National Weather Service.
"They're very similar. You actually get more of the portable hand crank for that amount of money," a county staff member said while explaining unit capabilities and cost; staff said approximately 150 units could be purchased within the grant allocation and that procurement would supplement about 50 previously distributed plug‑in radios.
Commissioners discussed timing for distribution, with one suggesting a push in February or March to coordinate with broader severe‑weather messaging. The commission moved and approved a motion to purchase the hand‑crank radios; staff said they will notify commissioners as units arrive and coordinate local distribution logistics.
The purchase is funded by the RC&D grant and staff said no additional county match beyond program administration was identified during the meeting. Specific vendor quotes and exact unit counts were discussed but not finalized in the public record.
