Salem council approves $88,900 storm-siren upgrade after vendor presentation

The Salem City Council voted to approve an $88,900 storm-siren upgrade recommended as “Option 2” by Table Rock Alerting Systems. Council discussion and the final vote followed a staff briefing that said a CDBG grant application was denied and that pursuing a halved grant award would not be cost-effective.

City Administrator Burbridge presented staff’s recommendation and funding plan, saying the city had $25,000 budgeted under capital improvements and requested approval for an additional $63,900 from prior-year funds to purchase Option 2. Burbridge said earlier grant work with MRPC and CEMA had not produced sufficient funding to cover the full recommendation.

Cruz Newberry, owner of Table Rock Alerting Systems, described three proposals to the council and recommended Option 2 as the best balance of cost and redundancy. Newberry said Option 2 would add two new, battery-backed Century Model 16V1T-P sirens and convert two existing sirens to battery backup, providing four battery-backed sirens across the city. He explained that lithium batteries increase runtime and reduce routine battery replacement intervals, and that a two-way controller would provide daily automated health checks and activation confirmation.

Newberry also described a higher-cost Option 3 (a full replacement with three smaller sirens) and an optional Storm Sentry add-on that would automatically activate sirens based on the tornado-warning polygon; he said Storm Sentry is a one-time cost and optional for future purchase.

After questions about timing, redundancy and grant prospects, Aldermen moved and seconded a motion to approve the staff recommendation to buy Option 2. The council voted to approve the purchase; staff will proceed with the procurement and return updates as needed.

The purchase and funding plan are the most recent procedural steps; staff noted the city will continue to seek grant opportunities to offset future additions or optional systems.