Delaware County Sirens

DELAWARE, Ohio When weather emergencies strike, thousands of residents in Delaware County are out of earshot of the warning sirens.

[UNPROTECTED]

By JASON MAYS

Published: February 12, 2009

DELAWARE, Ohio
When weather emergencies strike, thousands of residents in Delaware County are out of earshot of the warning sirens. The controversy over the sirens could now be decided by taxpayers.

County Commissioner Ken O’Brien hoped to have the issue on the may ballot. But majority favored the November ballot tonight. The other two commissioners want more information before they ask voters for more money.

What will be on the ballot in November isn’t set in stone yet. The county emergency management director suggests purchasing 46 new sirens to add to the 9 that already exist. That will cost 1.5 million dollars. The county would have to ask for a .25 mill levy. That’s 7 dollars 65 cents for the owner of a 100 thousand dollar home. We asked taxpayers if they’d be willing to front the costs.

Harold Ross of Delaware County says,“With the economy the way it is we certainly can’t handle anymore taxes.”

Berlin Township Trustee Ron Bullard says,“Whenever you look at safety issues and things like that people usually vote in favor of that especially when it’s just a small amount of money.“

There’s also maintenance costs. The county would need to generate about 600 thousand dollars for that. So they would ask for an additional .05 mill levy over two years.

[sound the alarm]

600k for maintenance? explain to me what is actually done to maintain them. that may help. so many times, they just throw out a number and never explain. please explain! hell, for 100k a year, I will press the button to see if they work. I will even windex the bird poop off of them for that.

[Explanation]

I'll take a chance to explain. Sirens are no different than other mechanical devices and require maintenance. Keep your car for 25yrs and tell us how much maintenance is required in comparison to the purchase price. Every other year, they need to have the bird nests removed, belts and gears checked, and greased. Getting someone to go up 60ft in a bucket truck to do this is not free. Also, each siren has 6 batteries (similar to a car) that need replaced, again like a car. Each battery is around $150 each. Each siren needs $900 worth of batteries every five years. So, for a 25 year life span (at todays cost) is $4500 each not including getting that person in the bucket truck to go out to do this! Multiply that by a bunch of sirens and it adds up to not pressing a button for $100,000; windex not included...

Now add operational costs of electricity running to each siren. Those batteris require a trickle charge like a boat battery. The electric companies may give this for free, but chances are not. Multiply that for many sirens for 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year for 25 years. The County Commissioners could go with the cheaper sirens and not purchase battery backed sirens, but I think we would all agree that after this recent wind event, that may not be a good idea when it is trying to warn of a slightly larger wind event.

Now take into account breakage. Items on large poles in a clearing aren't lighting sponges... naw... So, count on one of those a year and that may require complete replacement. I have heard that people take shots at sirens with rifles. Unless the commissioners are going to buy armored sirens, the county can count on those repairs.

Much of this is explained, the problem is the media never publishes this information. They are more concerned about selling commercials than getting information correct to educate the public on these issues. I bet part of the public doesn't realize these are OUTDOOR warning systems. They are not designed to hear inside. If that were the case, the county would need to analyze every type of building, determine insulation types, and come up with sound propogation factors. It would take 10 times the number sirens and now we are talking about something ridiculous. If you want to be warned in your house, sign up for the county phone notification system and/or buy a decent weather radio!

About sirens providing protection, that only goes so far. The sirens are probably only going to be sounded if the NWS puts out Tornado Warning. I imagine if the sirens were sounded every time someone called in seeing a low cloud, no one would pay attention anyway. Regardless, Delaware County relies on radar in Wilmington, OH. We are the furthest county from this site, thus the most chance for error. There has been a tornado touch down in Northern Franklin County that was never seen by the NWS. No sirens sounding. Just because you have sirens, they are not keeping tornadoes away. The most important part is to educate people on what to do if they hear sirens. Again, the media does some, but do you know where to go if in Wal-Mart? I have heard people say they come out of the house to see if the tornado is nearby when sirens sound. That is smart...

[We Dont]

We don't need no stinkin sirens. There's no tornadoes in Delaware County because the politcians suck harder than the wind blows.

[sound the alarm]

thanks for the explanation. i will vote yes. btw, i think my car is 25 years old.

[good citizen]

The sirens are a good idea, there needs to be a way to re-imburse communities who already have sirens in place. I think that is the major hurdle to the not putting it on the May ballot. Also, just maybe the economy will begin turning around (hopefully) and voters won't feel so stretched thin. Yes, Mr Explanation there needs to be MASSIVE public education on just what to do in a severe weather situation.

[good citizen]

My car is 15 yrs old.

[Not So Fast]

Buy yourself a battery operated weather radio - why would you trust the corrupt Republican government in this county to warn you of impending danger. They'd rather spit in your face!!!!

[Explanation]

My current car is 7 yrs old, but I recently had one that was 24 years old. Been through one battery, spark plugs, water pump, belt, and tensioner on the 7yr old... When I bought the 1985 GT a couple of years ago, it still had the original hoses! Maybe the sirens need 5.0 badges on the side to make them last longer!

[Delaware Resident]

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/storie...

Same issue a year later same old words from the county commissioners they don't care about public safety bet Ward could have made a decision by now!

[Except]

Ward's decision would have been to buy used sirens and charge us for new while he gave the maintenance contract to his drinking buddies.
These guys are doing it right. Whether it appeared on the May ballot or the November ballot is of no consequence as far as the installation goes. Get it right the first time.

[Not Needed]

Sirens are a waste of money and just something the local yokels will screw up as they try to structure it so they can steal the money and get campaign contributions from vendors. #8 is right a weather radio is cheaper for you and the county. Besides the new Auditor will probably be drunk and trying to spit in your face rather than warn you of a problem with the weather

[Only if]

you're a woman

[Josie]

Not So Fast wrote:

Buy yourself a battery operated weather radio - why would you trust the corrupt Republican government in this county to warn you of impending danger. They'd rather spit in your face!!!!

What does political party affiliation have to do with it?
Weather radios have the same limitations that warning sirens do. Warning sirens aren't meant to warn people indoors, true, but at the same time, weather radios aren't meant to warn people outside. Delaware County has enough outdoor venues that an outdoor warning siren system would be worth it.
We have two weather radios in my house and because of the time that our family spends outside, it would be worth it to us to be covered by an outdoor warning system. Where we used to live, we were covered by sirens and, because we spent so much time outside, we found out more tornado warnings from the sirens than we did from the weather radios. We also DO get tornadoes in Delaware County. Just because you haven't seen one for yourself doesn't mean they don't happen. Sure, we haven't had anything like Xenia has had in the past but we've had out share of strong tornadoes, mainly F3 range.
Sirens aren't limited to tornado warnings either. Many communities will sound their sirens for any general emergency that effects people outside. The policy in those cases is if you hear the sirens, go indoors and find more information.
A siren system is long overdue, and it's time the county commissioners followed through.

[Sirens Suck]

It isn't the job of the county to warn you. Take care of yourself. Most of the time they don't work then you'd blame the county cause the wind blew. Just another boondoggle for stupid politicians - all republican in Delaware, to screw up. You are dumb to trust your life to politicians. Here's a warning. They wanted to put a convict in office as Auditor. Look out for spit in your face candidates.

[Josie]

Sirens Suck wrote:

It isn't the job of the county to warn you. Take care of yourself. Most of the time they don't work then you'd blame the county cause the wind blew. Just another boondoggle for stupid politicians - all republican in Delaware, to screw up. You are dumb to trust your life to politicians. Here's a warning. They wanted to put a convict in office as Auditor. Look out for spit in your face candidates.

Being republican isn't a valid argument. All it shows is you're bigotry. It's completely irrelevant.

Also, there are some things (although few) that should be in government hands. Police and Fire for example. Those are government owned and operated. I take it you'd rather fight fires for yourself?

I'm not trusting politicians. I'm holding them accountable.

And lastly, I know the siren equipment that the Franklin County EMA operates and I can tell you that the sirens operate without a hitch 98% of the time. The other 2%, is a control cabinet malfunction like a blown amplifier or a blown speaker driver.

Give some fact and evidence, not angst and contempt.

[Silly Girl]

That reliance on the government to warn and protect you is foolish especially in the context of weather sirens. Take a look at the government at all levels Federal, State, Local; and all parties, Republicans, Independents, and Democrats and look at how they performed prior to, during and after Katrina.

Such sirens are a waste of money, don't provide anything except increased carelessness due to a false sense of security from relying on corrupt and inept politicians and their bureaucracies to do something you can and should do yourself. It's a waste of time effort and money they don't have!

[user]

Silly Girl wrote:

That reliance on the government to warn and protect you is foolish especially in the context of weather sirens. Take a look at the government at all levels Federal, State, Local; and all parties, Republicans, Independents, and Democrats and look at how they performed prior to, during and after Katrina.
Such sirens are a waste of money, don't provide anything except increased carelessness due to a false sense of security from relying on corrupt and inept politicians and their bureaucracies to do something you can and should do yourself. It's a waste of time effort and money they don't have!

What's with the rhetoric? This isn't Nicaragua -- it's just a county government trying to install tornado sirens. Sheesh.

[Silly Girl]

An inept county government that has not yet been able to consolidate a 911 emergency call system, nor complete construction of a jai (paid for already by the taxpayers) but can build a way excess sewer plant and rehab a furniture store as part of a sweet heart deal for a commissioner crony.

Let them finish things first before you give them some more money to waste and a project to fuckup

[Hoffman]

Silly Girl wrote:

An inept county government that has not yet been able to consolidate a 911 emergency call system, nor complete construction of a jai (paid for already by the taxpayers) but can build a way excess sewer plant and rehab a furniture store as part of a sweet heart deal for a commissioner crony.
Let them finish things first before you give them some more money to waste and a project to fuckup

You are a funny person. Where did you sharpen your dull wit?
The projects you spoke of where neglected by three previous county commissioners. The new ones are trying to clean up their mess. They had nothing to do with the sewer plan, the James D Ward/Halls building, or the jail.

But if you want to talk about the jail, they are working on a plan to help finish it. And they are using state/federal money to do it. It is actually a smart move.

So at least you should get your facts straight before you act like you know what you are talking about. And get a refund on the sharpening job you got.