Elkhart emergency siren “still a work in progress”

ELKHART LAKE — While up in the air may be a good location for it, that’s still the status of the emergency siren at the new fire station as well.

That was the report to the Elkhart Lake Village Board Monday from Village President Alan Rudnick.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s still a work in progress,” Rudnick said.

The siren has been the subject of several complaints to village officials from village residents who say they cannot hear it when it sounds and are concerned that the village cannot give proper notification should there be a tornado warning or other emergency situation.

“We talked to the county (emergency management) guys and they said (the siren) is not designed to be the warning system for tornadoes,” Rudnick continued.

“By law we don’t need a siren,” Trustee Rola Ann Klahn agreed. “But that said, most people are used to having a siren for a tornado warning. When you’re used to having it, it’s hard not to do it.”

“I haven’t had anyone tell me, ‘Oh my God, we don’t have a tornado siren.’ The old system seemed to upset as many people with the noise,” Trustee Richard Sadiq commented.

Trustee Steve Kapellen noted that the current siren was manufactured to specifications and added that numerous residents of the town of Rhine have reported they can hear the siren from their homes.

To replace the siren would require the village to pay the cost of removing the current siren to ship back to the manufacturer, he added. “That was the biggest one available from the company,” Kapellen noted.

“If we’re going to be the entity who warns people (about tornadoes), we have to make sure we warn everybody,” Rudnick said.

Several trustees pointed out that information about tornado warnings is widely and immediately disseminated through other media, such as over-the-air and cable television stations and weather radios.

“If there is an impending storm, it’s not going to be bright and sunny outside,” Rudnick commented, suggesting that village residents could turn to those sources for warnings if they fear a tornado may be imminent.

It was also suggested that, for the cost of replacing the current siren — which Kapellen noted is sufficient for the fire department’s requirements — the village could provide a subsidy for village residents to purchase weather radios.

“This is basically a legislative decision for you,” Village Clerk/Treasurer Jeanette Moioffer advised the board. “Are you going to provide a warning with the siren, provide incentives for (weather) radios, or just say you’re not going to do anything anymore.”

Rudnick said village officials would continue to investigate the issue. “We’ll make a recommendation on what your options are and you’ll have to decide,” he told the trustees.

“I know some people wanted something done quickly, but it won’t happen. It’s not an easy answer,” Rudnick concluded.