GARNETT — Most of the smaller cities in Anderson County have new outdoor storm warning sirens with battery back up systems. A cooperative effort among Anderson County Emergency Management and those city councils helped push through a federal grant that paid most of the costs, the Anderson County Review reported. Anderson County Emergency Management director Marvin Grimes said new sirens were installed in Kincaid, Lone Elm, Bush City, Colony, Harris, Welda and Greeley. Installation of the new sirens came about six months after Anderson County commissioners rejected a federal grant proposal that would have paid about 75 percent of the costs of the new sirens – or a little more than $97,000. Commissioners said the county couldn’t afford to match the grant, prompting a volley of criticism. Later, representatives from Colony and Greeley said their cities would pay about $3,500 each to help match the grant. County commissioners reversed their decision and agreed to pay the rest. Grimes told the Review that new outdoor warning sirens are were needed. The old sirens did not have battery back-ups, and could not function if the power went out. About 10 years ago, when the power was knocked out to colony’s siren, a deputy had to race the storm to the town in order to warn residents with his patrol car public address system. The larger cities of Garnett and Westphalia updated their sirens earlier.
Thursday, Dec. 1, noon
