Ford City Emergency Siren Upgrades Up for Vote
The Ford City emergency siren stands high near the Ford City Volunteer Fire Department.
by Jonathan Weaver
New batteries, relays and a new switch were installed in the Ford City emergency siren prior to the May Memorial Day eve event, but even more upgrades are possible to warn local residents of emergency.
According to Borough Council Vice-President Tyson Klukan, the siren – which was received through grant funding many years ago – works, but only if manually activated by EMA Director Greg Dinko.
Possible additional upgrades to that system include a “mushroom-style” button in the Borough building, a pager for volunteer firefighters and a “tech-savvy” activation method via phone.
Klukan said the $3,430 estimate received from Murray Electric in Ford City for upgrades to keep residents safe “makes sense.”
“You can be anywhere with a four-to-five digit activation code and set that siren off while you’re in (for example) South Carolina with this technology,” Klukan said. “We have this emergency siren, but we need to have other options available to set this siren off.
“We would like to see the siren functional more often and used more.”
Council members also are to break down costs for a dedicated phone line on battery backup.
Labor costs are also included in the estimate.
New emergency tones would be included in the upgrade to warn residents of emergencies such as tornado warnings, summer curfew or flash flooding.
A Council vote is scheduled for the regular council meeting.
Council President Carol Fenyes said the Borough’s Early Intervention Program evaluation through Novak Consulting is complete.
Department of Community and Economic Development Michael Foreman met with Finance Committee members last week, and both he and Ingram were invited to attend next month’s council meeting to present their draft recommendations.
“The study presented 43 recommendations to improving the functionality of the Borough over the next five years,” Fenyes said. “As this project is meant to suggest improvements to the way the borough operates and provide a strategic and financial plan to reach those objectives, it is extremely important to the citizens of the borough to understand those objectives and lend their support to not only this council but succeeding councils in order to reach those goals as a committed community.”
Fenyes also briefed residents that a Pittsburgh-based independent oil and gas exploration group, Penn Energy Resources, LLC, has approached Borough Council regarding a possible water extraction facility on the brownfields near the Ford City Bridge.
A formal proposal will be made during the September regular council meeting.
A pair of work sessions will also be held next month – before the regular council meeting to discuss a seven-to-10 year plan to upgrade the water delivery system with Ford City Borough Municipal Sewage Disposal Authority leaders and Borough engineers as well as prior to the fourth Monday meeting with Parks and Recreation leaders to discuss future improvements to Seventh Avenue and Boulder Park playgrounds.
The Lower Pump Station went offline last week following heavy rains.
Fenyes thanked Summer Program leaders during the past few months for their efforts with local children.
In addition to the possible emergency siren upgrades, Ford City Borough Council will have much to discuss before the next fourth Monday meeting - including brainstorms to upgrade the water system and community parks.
4 Comments
Other Links to this Post
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
By worthingtonman, August 23, 2016 @ 10:01 PM
For a town with no money and massive debt, why do they spend spend spend in every article?
By Rainbow Rider, August 24, 2016 @ 12:30 PM
Wonder Wo- man , it would seem that things are so dilapidated in FC that they are forced to do most of these things which also need done. This isn’t frivolous spending as far as I can tell. They are looking to, and trying to make, a bright future, and I hope they succeed.
There are, and have been, many obstacles on that path.
By mutchka, August 24, 2016 @ 1:40 PM
Anyone got a bridge for sale I think you have a customer please Pennsylvania take over this town and save us from people that don’t know anything but keep spending.The police chief resigns and they hire him back part time ding ding ding
By mad-2010, August 25, 2016 @ 7:26 AM
Hate to say it but, the police dept. wasn’t all that to begin with and for some time! They can do better.