Tuesday, September 07, 1999
Tornado sirens get increased attention
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
As two Butler County communities await installation of their first tornado sirens next month, and others prepare to add more, Middletown city commissioners will resume their debate today on whether to buy some.
In May, after Union and Liberty townships were denied federal grants totaling $258,000 for 18 sirens, those communities vowed to get sirens on their own.
Union Township recently got bids and ordered 11 sirens at the best cost found — $148,000 installed, said Scott Bressler, Union Township projects manager.
That ended discussions which began in the early 1970s and became serious about 18 months ago, Mr. Bressler said.
“We kind of grabbed the ball and ran with it,” Mr. Bressler said. “We were just going to do our own project at first. But in discussion with Liberty Township, they said they were also interested. We learned they could probably just piggyback on our deal.”
Butler County's emergency management agency then asked to bring other municipalities into the deal from Federal Signal Corp., University Park, Ill., to buy sirens in bulk, Mr. Bressler said.
Liberty Township bought seven for a cost of about $97,000, said Nell Kilpatrick, administrator. Oxford ordered one, bringing the city's total to seven, said Fire Chief Len Endress. Monroe also ordered one, for a total of five in the city, said City Manager Don Whitman. All likely will be installed in October.
The siren debate is shared by communities nationwide, and talks have escalated locally since the April 9 tornado that swept through parts of Hamilton and Warren counties.
Some argue that if the sirens save one life, their cost is justified. Others say sirens often are not heard, especially by those inside buildings or vehicles. Many recommend weather radios as the best alternative, or a combination of sirens and radios.
Deerfield Township plans to buy five sirens. Fairfield got four earlier this year. On Sept. 2, Trenton City Council, debated buying two, but made no decision.
Various Middletown commissions have for years argued the merits of sirens.
This commission has been split, with Robert “Sonny” Hill and Fred Sennet favoring sirens; Paul Nenni and Jerry Banks arguing that sirens are not the answer; and Jim Armbruster, David Schiavone and Chairman Earl Smith apparently undecided.
But City Manager Ron Olson hopes that will change today and commissioners will reach a decision after hearing a proposal from Fire Chief John Sauter and Police Chief Bill Becker to have 10 sirens installed by spring for $132,502.
The chiefs and Mr. Olson all favor the sirens.
“This issue isn't going away,” Mr. Olson said. “It's a gamble. One day that tornado could just as well touch down in Middletown as anywhere else in the country.”
Middletown commissioners were involved in a similar debate in May.
“We've kicked it around in this community for years,” Mr. Olson said. “My feeling is that we need to have an official position now — go on record to do it or not.”
Middletown also is still considering working with a local organization to seek a matching funds grant to buy weather radios in bulk and sell them at cost to residents, and at reduced prices to low-income families, Mr. Olson said.
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