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Case #2: Warning Siren Replacement <br /> <br />Police Chief Way explained in 1988 the City of Ramsey installed 17 warning sirens with a life <br />expectancy of ten years. The City replaced three sirens in 2003, at a cost of approximately <br />$37,000. One other siren has been replaced twice since 1988 due to lightening strikes. The City <br />has budgeted $32,000 in 2004, for the replacement of two sirens. There is approximately <br />$112,738 in the Equipment Replacement Fund for warning sirens, which is the depreciable <br />money from 11 sirens obtained in 1988. With the funding at current costs, the City would be <br />able to replace approximately seven more sirens. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way advised staff is recommending that four additional sirens be purchased from <br />the Equipment Replacement Fund to replace four warning sirens that are currently not working to <br />full capacity. This would result in the City purchasing six sirens for 2004, two of them from the <br />General Fund Budget and four of them from the Equipment Replacement Fund. Staff also <br />recommends that one existing unit that is being replaced be relocated to improve the coverage <br />area. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig stated he is surprised that sirens do not last longer, as they are not used all that <br />often. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way replied the sirens are now being tested in the winter, because they are finding <br />the more often they are run and used the better they work. <br /> <br />Chairperson EIvig asked if there is a better product than the brand the City has been purchasing. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way replied last year the products were changed to the brand of Federal Warning <br />Systems. An RFP will be put out for Federal products, which is a better product. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig questioned if better coverage could be achieved by better overlapping of more <br />powerful sireus. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way responded in the affirmative. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if Federal products are distributed across the United <br />States. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way responded in the affirmative and explained Federal Warning Systems is the <br />number one company that distributes these products. <br /> <br />Councihnember Zimmerman asked if the City would receive a better deal by purchasing all of <br />the sirens at one time. <br /> <br />Police Chief Way replied there would be a lower cost in labor with having more sirens replaced. <br /> <br />Finance Committee/March 23, 2004 <br /> Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />