Sirens mulled for Fort Scott Lake

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Bourbon County Emergency Manager Keith Jeffers spoke with county commissioners about the possibility of placing a storm siren at Fort Scott Lake on Friday.

Jeffers told commissioners that lake residents approached him about acquiring one of the sirens the city donated to serve people at the lake. After the city purchased and installed new sirens in March, it gave the existing sirens to the Emergency Management Office.

Getting a siren out at the lake has been a concern of residents and members of the Lake Fort Scott Committee since their first meeting in 2003. There are currently eight storm sirens in and around Fort Scott but with the lake about five miles away from the city, residents can't always hear them.

"In the big scheme of things, it's an outdoor siren, so it's really going to be for the boaters, the campers and the people that are swimming," Jeffers said.

For now, emergency preparedness officials suggest installing one siren at the lake near the swimming beach. The location, in the "bowl of the lake," would allow the siren to presumably echo throughout the entire area.

The main issue with placing a siren at the lake is the cost of installation, which could run anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. Jeffers said he intends to seek bids from multiple companies before committing to a price.

Residents can pursue various avenues to acquire the funds, Jeffers said, including grants, fundraisers and personal donations.

Commissioners did not take action on the matter Friday, but the topic is on the agenda for the Lake Fort Scott Committee meeting at 10 a.m. today at the Fort Scott Airport Meeting Room.

Jeffers also gave commissioners a "wish list" of 34 locations where he'd like to see storm sirens placed throughout the county. Fort Scott Lake is No. 13.

The top three spots on the list are Bronson, Devon and Elm Creek Lake.

Bourbon County Commissioners will meet again at 9 a.m., Monday, at the Bourbon County Courthouse.