Lincoln aldermen hear update on storm damaged storm siren

[April 06, 2017]  LINCOLN - On Monday evening at the end of the voting session of the Lincoln City Council, Jonie Tibbs asked for an update from Fire Chief Mark Miller regarding a storm damaged storm siren that is no longer working in Ward 3. Tibbs said that constituents, as well as administration at Washington Monroe School, are voicing their concerns that the city does not have a storm siren in their ward.

Miller offered a complete account of what is going on with the replacement of the siren.

The siren and its pole fell to the ground during a severe storm on March 5th of this year. Miller said the fallen siren was examined on March 6th, and it was determined that it was going to be a total loss. Miller reported the incident to the city’s insurance provider on that day and also reported to the city council on that evening.

One week later, Miller contacted the insurance provider to find out where they were in the claim process. The insurance company told Miller that the siren would be covered under the city policy, and that the city would be able to replace the siren.

Miller said the city does business locally with Lincoln Land Communications for the sirens. Miller contacted LLC for a bid to replace the siren, which would include replacing the siren, a control box, and a battery box. Miller said the pole the siren was mounted on was originally provided by Ameren Illinois. Contacting Ameren, Miller was told that the company would sell the city a new pole and would install it for free.

Miller said then on March 24th he received word from the insurance provider that a payment would be forthcoming. The city has a $5,000 deductible and the payment from the insurance company would reflect that deductible. Based on knowing the check was on its way, Miller asked LLC to move forward with ordering the new siren and accessories that same day.

The check arrived from the insurance company on March 27th.

Miller said that as of Monday night LLC has the equipment ordered and is just waiting for it to arrive from the manufacturer. Once it arrives, Miller, LLC, and Ameren will coordinate getting the new siren in place. He said the pole would need to be delivered and the new equipment mounted before it is set into place, but will be done as quickly as possible after the new siren arrives.

When Miller had completed his update, Tibbs said that she had talked to Miller before the evening meeting and asked him to offer a full account of the process to aldermen and the public. She said she understood very well the concerns of the citizens in Ward 3, but she also wanted them to understand rectifying these situations does take time, and that everyone is working as quickly as possible.

Miller also reminded the public that storm sirens are NOT the first warning citizens can receive regarding dangerous weather activity. He said the sirens are an outdoor only alarm system, and not designed to be heard inside buildings. For the best and earliest warning of approaching storms, citizens should have a weather radio with an alarm on it. He also noted those weather radios often sound before the sirens do, so it is a quicker alert allowing for more response time for citizens to get to their safe places in their homes.

[Nila Smith]