HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.03.2001 (2)COUNCIL WORK SESSION
December 3, 2001
5:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy, Gronen, Getty, Berry.
Moved by Anders, seconded by Berry that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven.
Motion carried.
Frank Magsamen, Black Hawk County Emergency Management Coordinator, reviewed the
city's early warning systems. Mr. Magsamen stated that he reviewed the sixteen early warning
systems that exist in the city, what the age of the system is and the location of the individual
sirens. Records with Black Hawk Emergency Management indicate that the average age of the
early warning sirens is thirty years of age. To increase coverage in areas of existing residential
and new development residential areas of the city, Mr. Magsamen recommended three additional
early warning sirens, one on Highway 63 North, one near Highway 218 South and one on West
Fourth Street near West Shaulis Road. The second recommendation is to develop a capital
improvement program that starts a systematic replacement of all current sixteen sirens. Mr.
Magsamen stated there may be 50 percent matching grant programs that would assist the city
with replacement of the early warning system. The approximate cost of a complete new siren
with radio control and installation is $17,000.00 per siren. Replacement cost is approximately
$10,000.00 per unit, plus installation costs.
Mr. Magsamen reported he has been working with the Sign & Traffic Department, and they have
put together a 5 year Capital Improvement Program asking for $54,000.00 for three new sirens
and replacing the city's current fifteen sirens at a cost of $10,000.00 per unit, plus installation
costs. One unit belongs to Hawkeye Community College. The total cost to replace all sirens
over the next five years is $243,000.00. Mr. Magsamen stated he needs approximately $1,600.00
to repair the existing sirens this year.
Mr. Magsamen stated that each city is responsible for their sirens, and that Black Hawk County
is responsible for the sirens outside the city limits. Black Hawk County and area cities contribute
to the Emergency Management operation budget.
Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, stated that there are no funds in the current budget for
the repair, but we could move bond money from other projects.
Mr. Magsamen stated that the system can be activated from the Emergency Management office
and from Consolidated Dispatch, and the siren tests are run every other month by the two
agencies. Mr. Magsamen stated that most of the sirens are activated by radio, and that only six
sirens have battery backups. Mr. Magsamen recommended that all new sirens have battery
backup. Sign & Traffic will review if the current sirens could have battery backups installed.
Mayor Rooff suggested that this item be placed on next week's council agenda, and that the
Chief Financial Officer provide proposed funding for the sirens.
Moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the request from Black Hawk County Emergency
Management for funding of emergency warning systems be placed on the council agenda of
December 10, 2001 and that the meeting be adjourned at 5:25 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion
carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk