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County will pitch in on Lake Fort Scott siren
In the future, when tornadic weather threatens the area, those who might be enjoying a leisure weekend at Lake Fort Scott will receive proper warning.
The Bourbon County Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to contribute $5,000 to the Lake Fort Scott Siren Fund.
The decision to help with the project came when commissioners met with Emergency Manager William Wallis, Fort Scott Fire Chief Paul Ballou, and Lake Fort Scott Committee members Pat Scott and Lisa Ward.
On March 15, Commission Chair Barbara Albright reported she had been approached about the county providing financial assistance to purchase a siren for the community. Wallis reported on which incorporated towns have storm warning systems, and also said grants are not available to assist with mitigation of storms.
Third District Commissioner Harold Coleman expressed his concern that the county would set a precedent. County Counselor Justin Meeks agreed and suggested the county could assist Lake Fort Scott residents this year, then establish a fund in its budget to annually assist other communities or towns in following years.
"Without a doubt, I stand behind it 100 percent, as well as other (sirens in other) areas in Bourbon County," Wallis said Tuesday.
Besides Lake Fort Scott, the only other communities that currently do not have sirens are Redfield and Hiattville.
Wallis said he has been working with Ballou to improve storm warnings at Lake Fort Scott. An estimated cost for the siren is between $16,000 and $18,000, which includes installation and setup, Ballou later told the Tribune.
Ballou said he also has a $1,700 service contract, which includes two trips each year for the city's nine sirens.
When the siren is put in place at Lake Fort Scott, it will be the first siren the city has ever attempted to activate outside the city limits, Ballou said.
"We think we're going to be able to reach it," he said.