City pursues new siren system

    The Clear Lake City Council gave its approval Monday night to begin the process of replacing aging and often malfunctioning storm warning sirens.
    The city will purchase two sirens this year at a cost of $35,379 and two next year from Federal Signal Corp., of Snyder, Neb.  The four sirens will do the job of seven sirens now in use, explained Clear Lake Police Chief Greg Peterson.
    Ventura City officials have also voted to purchase three signals from the same firm and Cerro Gordo County Supervisors were slated to act Tuesday upon the purchase of  signals for outlying areas around the lake.
    Peterson said the siren system currently in use around the lake dates back to World War II vintage.  
    ‘They have been repaired for years, to the point where you can’t find parts anymore,” said Peterson.  Four of 13 sirens failed a recent monthly test, he noted.
    The louder decibels and design of the new sirens will allow fewer units to do the job. The new sirens will also be radio-operated, as opposed to requiring a telephone line connection, and have a battery back-up to help insure they will operate in the event of a power outage.
     “Four will provide better coverage than seven,” said Peterson.  In addition, the system will be compatible with equipment at the new Sheriff’s Dispatch Center.  That will allow Sheriff’s personnel to monitor the working order of the sirens.