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Council moves forward on $45,000 storm siren controller replacement; budget amendment to come
Summary
City staff reported the emergency siren controller is obsolete (running Windows 10), estimated replacement cost about $45,000; council voted to move a budget amendment to the May 4 voting session to fund the purchase and programming partnership with a local college.
City staff told the Poplar Bluff City Council on April 20 that the municipal storm-siren controller, installed in 2012, uses Windows 10 and components that will soon be unsupported. Fire Chief Mike Moffett described the system as outdated and recommended replacing the computer "brain" of the system while retaining existing siren hardware where possible. He said the new controller could be operational within 30 to 60 days if funded and installed.
Assistant City Manager Laurie Phelps said the cost is close to $45,000 and that staff had identified capital cuts elsewhere to make the purchase. Chief Moffett noted the new system will integrate with the National Weather Service so tornado warnings can trigger automatic siren activation, and the local college will share programming costs, reducing the city's expense.
Council voted to move the proposed FY2026 budget amendment to the May 4 voting session for formal adoption; staff said they will present the specific budget changes and funding offsets at that workshop.
