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Boone County safety committee flags tornado-siren failure, weather-radio gaps and panic-button issues
Summary
At the Boone County Safety Committee meeting May 18, committee members reported that the tornado siren near the sheriff’s office failed during a statewide drill (the siren is owned by the City of Albion), weather radios did not activate, Extension Office panic-button testing revealed problems, and staff will pursue training and possible grant funding to address gaps.
Commissioner Brian J. Yosten, chair of the Boone County Safety Committee, opened the committee’s quarterly safety review at 9:00 A.M. on May 18. Committee members and staff discussed several operational gaps in emergency communications and response procedures.
The committee reported that the tornado siren near the Sheriff’s Office did not sound during a statewide drill; the minutes record that the siren is owned by the City of Albion. Committee members also said weather radios failed to activate during the drill; they discussed pursuing grant funding to replace or upgrade radios. Testing revealed issues with the Extension Office panic button, and the committee recorded that an additional PC and panic button were added to the Probation Office.
Members evaluated staff response to a recent rooftop-unit smoke incident and concluded they may need to re-address evacuation/assembly locations in the courthouse. Committee members asked the County Clerk to explore scheduling CPR and First Aid training for courthouse and sheriff’s office employees.
Those present at the quarterly meeting included Commissioners Brian J. Yosten, Jon Lindgren and Matt Niewohner; Rod Nelson, Courthouse Maintenance; Jenna Church, Region 44 Emergency Manager; Abbey DeBoyes, County Attorney; Mary Hemmingsen, Office Manager, Sheriff’s Office; and Kate Noble, County Clerk. The Safety Committee adjourned at 9:24 A.M.
Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes direct staff to investigate weather-radio replacement options (including grants), confirm panic-button functionality across offices, and schedule first-aid/CPR training.
