Elgin will expand emergency warning system

Residents in the south and southwest parts of Elgin will soon be connected to the city’s emergency warning system as 15 new sirens are brought on board over the next five years.

City council members gave preliminary approval Wednesday for the $252,500 expenditure that will cover materials, technology infrastructure and labor to erect the first six sirens.

“Considering the weather we had last night, I am excited we are doing this right now,” said Councilwoman Tish Powell at the committee of the whole meeting. “I think this is money really well spent.”

Elgin expansion has left many residents on the south and southwest sides too far away to hear severe weather sirens — like the ones that went off during Tuesday night’s storm.

For the emergency warning system to be expanded, outdated technology needs to be replaced. The existing 15 sirens have been operational since 1996 and materials are no longer manufactured to support them in an expansion.

At the same time, the city must shift frequencies on which the system operates because of interference created by Sprint/Nextel — a change that also could not have happened with the outdated technology.

Sprint/Nextel is covering the frequency shifting project cost of $1.1 million, according to Michael Bayard, Elgin’s public safety system specialist. Bayard said the new sirens will be able to be put up within a couple months of ordering the materials. The city is considering sites in the Highland Woods subdivision and the area between Route 20 and Bowes, Randall and Nessler roads first.

“Elgin’s first priority is addressing areas with no current coverage,” said Aaron Cosentino, Elgin’s management analyst.

The council will give an official vote on the expenditure at its next council meeting, held on July 13.