Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board authorizes search for grant to replace tornado siren and connect to county EMA system
Summary
Town representatives told the board that grant funds (identified near $50,000) could cover a bid of about $40,000 to replace the aging tornado siren; the board authorized staff to pursue grant applications and to serve as the applicant for mounting a siren on a town-owned building.
Etna Green officials discussed plans to replace an aging tornado siren and to connect the town to the Marshall County EMA's remote dispatch system. A staff member and fire department representative described a current bid estimate of about $40,000 for a new siren and said MCOG (the regional planning organization) had identified grant opportunities totaling roughly $50,000.
The presenter asked the council for permission for the town to be the grant applicant because the siren would be mounted on a town-owned building. She explained that without upgrading a town-owned siren the town could not participate in the county's remote dispatch system. "There is a grant identified for about $50,000. The cost associated with the tornado siren would be $40,000 per the current bid," the presenter told the board. The council voted to allow staff to continue researching the grant and to pursue an application this quarter if feasible.
Why it matters: A new siren that is remotely activated by county dispatch could improve warning times for residents. The board's decision to pursue grant funding preserves options without committing town funds in advance.
Next steps: Staff will research grant-match requirements, prepare an application for the upcoming submission deadline (September 30, as discussed), and return with detailed cost, match, and ownership information.
