Daniels County weighs payment for two emergency sirens as FEMA reimbursement remains unclear

Commissioners and city staff discussed how to handle payment for two emergency warning sirens after the vendor, Red Tail, requested payment while federal grant reimbursement remained unresolved.

City and county staff said one siren has been installed and is operating, while the second has been purchased but not yet erected. Staff raised concerns that buying equipment before the grant administrator disburses funds could jeopardize eligibility. "The work's been done before you were actually given the money," a county staff member said, explaining that grants typically cover work that has not yet been completed and that timing could be a technical hurdle for reimbursement.

Officials referenced a per-siren price and an outstanding balance to the vendor; participants mentioned $78,000 as a unit figure and about $86,000 owed to Red Tail. Commissioners said they would ask the county grant administrator (Pam) to confirm whether the purchase and the incomplete installation could be reconciled with FEMA rules or if the county risks repaying funds. A staff member offered to set up a meeting with the grant administrator to clarify reimbursement options.

Commissioners discussed reusing existing site infrastructure—such as concrete footings at the fairgrounds—to reduce installation costs if the county must fund part of the work. They also said they would hold further discussion pending the grant administrator's guidance and that they wanted any vendor payments clarified before closing the fiscal year.

The board did not adopt additional formal action at the meeting; staff planned follow-up with the grant official and with the vendor.