HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP August 15, 1985
CITY of ANDOVER
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - AUGUST 15, 1985 - MINUTES
A Special Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order
by Mayor Jerry Windschitl on Thursday, August 15, 1985, 7:40 P.M.,
for the purpose of discussion on warning sirens.
Councilmen Present: Elling, Orttel
Councilmen Absent: Knight, Lachinski
Also Present: A.Administrator-Pat Lindquist, Building
Inspector-Dave Almgren, Engineer-Jim Schrantz,
County Civil Defense Director-Bruce Wojack,
Siren Representatives-Terry Lehn (Lehn Electric),
Robert Reiss (Healy-Ruff), and Tommy Thompson
(Federal Signal Corp.)
Mr. Wojack explained to the City Council that the majority of sirens
in the metro area have been, and are now, activated by phone, however,
within two years the phone companies will be out of using leased
lines. As a result of this, most municipalities are now converting
to radio activated systems.
Mr. Reiss explained the radio-activated encoder/decoder distributed
by Healy-Ruff; and outlined its advantages over the conventional
phone activated systems. Hennepin County has awarded a Contract
to Healy-Ruff for the encorders/decorders for their entire (160+)
warning siren system. Anoka County has purchased the equipment
through the Hennepin County Bid and are set up for radio activation.
The City of Fridley will be the first municipality in Anoka County
to use this radio-activated system. Several other municipalities
throughout the metro area are in the process of switching over.
The advantages of the radio activated system was covered, i.e.,
1) better security, 2) shorter transmission time, 3) ability to
activate individual sirens as well as more than one at a time,
and 4) less chance of failure of systems to activate.
Messrs. Lehn and Thompson presented maps of the City showing
a lay-out proposed for the heavily populated areas in the southern
part of the City. The Council felt that the City should look to
covering the populated northwesterly part of the City as well;
and a somewhat better configuration pattern for the south sirens
to cover more area. Mr. Lehn agreed to again physically inspect
the City and based on electrical power supply, would present a
new recommended siren lay-out using four sirens.
Costs for the system were discussed. Total cost on a 4-siren
radio activated system would be approximately $30,000.00. In
addition to the capital outlay cost would be the monthly electrical
service costs. Also discussed was the possibility of going to a
lease-purchase arrangement for the acquisition, thus enabling the
City to acquire the warning system more quickly.
Special City Council Meeting
August 15, 1985
Page 2
It was felt that the City may be able to acquire the system through
the bids of other metro cities. Messrs. Lehn and Thompson agreed
to prepare an estimate for the cities. They would also attempt to
secure some costs from Anoka Electric for monthly service.
Mr. Wojack iiformed the Council that there i s some federal monies
coming to the County. This is distributed to cities having their
own C i v i I Defense Director; a position which the City should look
into. He agreed to prepare a brief job description and outline
functions of such a department.
MOTION by Orttel, seconded by Elling to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned 9:00 P.M.
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