City Eyes Storm Siren Repairs

— Police officials, charged with pushing the button on the city's warning sirens, recently discovered three of the 20 sirens aren't working properly.

"We put eyes on all 20 sirens last month and found that the sirens at Rainbow Road and Northgate Road, Seneca Road and Osage Road and Walnut and 48th Street weren't working properly," said Capt. James Baker of the Rogers Police Department.

"Because we are the ones pushing the buttons, we wanted to make sure the system works," Baker said.

Aldermen are expected to approve an ordinance Tuesday giving Washington Electronics of Pittsburg, Kan., a $7,350 contract to repair the inoperable sirens. The firm was asked last month to inspect the sirens and give city officials a repair estimate.

Part of the $7,350 contract, $765, is for the inspection and minor repairs the company made last month, Baker said.

No siren repair money was budgeted for 2012, according to the budget document.

see repairs page 2A

The repair money will come from the general fund reserve, according to the ordinance.

A bigger siren expense is slated for later this year, Baker said.

To meet a Federal Communication Commission mandate to tighten the bandwidth, officials will have to replace all 20 radios on the sirens and purchase a new base station.

Bandwidth refers to size of the a radio wave. Narrowing the bandwidth allows more signals in the frequency spectrum.

"The FCC says we have the project complete by Jan. 1, so we will have to find the money to do it," Baker said.

MEETING INFORMATION

Rogers City Council

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Council Chambers, Rogers City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St. Enter through the door on the northeast side of the building.

On the agenda:

  • An ordinance authorizing separate contracts for sport park equipment. Luber Brothers is expected to get an $81,740 contract for a Jacobsen mower; Kay Park Recreation, a $26,013 contract for 12 sets of bleachers; and Rainey Electronics, a $51,561 contract for six light emitting display scoreboards.
  • A resolution authorizing a $58,480 contract with Pavement Maintenance Unlimited for taxiway and apron rehabilitation at the Rogers Municipal Airport.

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