Discussion on the downtown tornado siren continued with the Warsaw Common Council Monday night where, by unanimous vote, the decision was made to relocate it to Warsaw Fire Station 1.

The siren is currently located on the former Warsaw City Hall on Market Street where it is unmanned. According to Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory Chief Mike Brubaker, the siren has worked fine when tested, but there has been the occasion when it has not worked because someone switched breakers in the building rending the siren silent.

The cost to relocate the siren to a 70-foot pole at Fire Station 1 on at the corner of Main and Indiana streets is $12,840 and includes a thorough inspection. During a Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting Friday, Jeff Grose asked about the cost of a new siren and about technological advances that could render sirens less necessary. (See story)

Last night, the common council agreed that a siren is necessary and even discussed the need for a fourth siren to the south of Warsaw. Councilwoman Elaine Call said the need for a siren is obvious because residents are not able to hear the siren even to Warsaw Community High School. Brubaker said when Station 3 is built, a siren will be added there.

In the meantime, the siren at the old city hall will be relocated and placed higher in the air, which will give it better projection to reach more outlying areas. Council president Diane Quance also said a siren is needed north of town where more commercial and industrial growth has happened.

Brubaker presented the council with a quote from J&K Communications of Columbia City for a new siren. That cost is $28,604.71.

The council voted unanimously to have J&K Communications remove the siren from the old city hall location and reinstall it on a 70-foot pole at Fire Station 1. The quote of $12,840 also includes $4,275 for Dennie Electric to provide the electrical work.

In another matter carried over from the B.O.W. meeting, the council also voted on the purchase of two police cars for the Warsaw Police Department. The bid of $50,794.60 came from Kelley Chevrolet in Fort Wayne. Lakeside Chevrolet of Warsaw was not able to bid on the purchases because it was unable to find 2013 models that fit the specifications needed and the 2014 models were not yet available.

In a final announcement, Grose said archery training for the veteran archers selected to take part in the controlled deer hunts coming up this fall is set for Thursday and Saturday. A map of the deer reduction zones and other information for landowners and qualified hunters is available HERE.