The tornado siren that failed to notify the community during an April tornado will be replaced, the Crothersville Town Council agreed during their July 3 meting.
The vintage siren which formerly summoned local volunteer firefighters as far back as the 1960’s failed to function during a storm in early April. The faulty electronics were quickly located and replaced by S&L Electric in Austin. However, because of its age, local elected officials sought bids for its replacement.
Capital Electronics proposed to replace the weather notification siren at a cost of $32,567. Nearby S&L Electronics provided a proposal of just under $30,000.
“I know we need to try to save money but we are under a lot of public scrutiny on this so maybe going with professionals who do this all the time would be a wiser expenditure of the additional money,” councilman Jamy Greathouse said.
“But S&L is just down the road and they were the one’s who quickly got the siren working when it failed in April,” replied council president Terry Richey. “We need to act on this now.”
Funding for the weather siren will be paid from CEDIT (County Economic Development Income Tax), according to clerk-treasurer Danieta Foster.
On a motion by councilman Chad Wilson, the council approved the proposal from S&L Electric at a cost not to exceed $35,000 on a 3-1 vote with Greathouse voting against the measure. Councilman Jason Hillenburg, who works for S&L Electric abstained from voting.
The council learned that insuring the town’s buildings, equipment and liability will cost over $5,600 more than last year. Jason Bukowski with Shepherd Moore Insurance told the council that the “insurance market is incredibly difficult right now. We are experiencing higher premiums and higher deductibles, just like you are with your personal home and auto coverage.”
The cost of the town’s insurance will increase to nearly $59,000 when it renews next month.
Bukowski noted that it wasn’t just premium hikes causing the town’s increase. “You have added two additional vehicles and have higher payroll (figured in the calculation of worker’s compensation coverage),” he said.
The council will hold a special meeting tomorrow (July 11) at 6:15 p.m. to award the bid for the paving through a state CCMG grant. The town will be paving Preston Street from Coleman Street south to the small bridge at 215 S. Preston. The council earlier determined that the bridge replacement would be included in the town’s next CCMG grant request.
In other matters, the council
•Gave Utility Director Mason Boicourt permission to spend up to $48,000 for a new utility department truck.
•Agreed to get a quote for installing a guardrail on the east end of Short Street to prevent vehicles from driving though residents’ property.
•Agreed to take bids for the sale of a sewer jetter.
•Gave first reading to an ordinance that will increase fines for violation of the town’s grass
and rank vegetation ordinance.
•For budget making purposes, the council agreed to a 4% salary increase for town employees in 2025.