Lincoln aldermen hear update on
storm damaged storm siren
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[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.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Apr/06/images/ads/current/farmers_grain_sda_daily_farm_2016.png)
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.
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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.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Apr/06/images/ads/current/graue_17_malibu_022717.png)
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]
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