Public Safety Committee discusses fire sirens, Popeye Picnic
<span>Chester residents may soon be hearing the outdoor warning siren a bit less for fire calls based upon discussion during Wednesday's meeting of the Public Safety Committee.</span>
<span>Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert said the siren's use was intended to let firefighters who were outdoors or away from their pagers know there was a fire. But with the advances in technology, that may no longer be needed.</span>
<span>"We're thinking about not setting the city hall fire siren off at night," he said. "It would be a weather siren only."</span>
<span>Bert said that at this point in time, the siren is not benefitting the CFD much. He added that during times when severe weather is forecast, people would get confused between the fire siren and the tornado siren - which have different tones.</span>
<span>"The only benefit is if people associate the fire siren with emergency vehicles on the road," said Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey.</span>
<span>The committee discussed an idea to implement flashing lights instead of the siren.</span>
<span>EMA Coordinator Charlie Bargman II reported on the possibility of switching to a different mass notification system.</span>
<span>He said that the city's current CodeRED system costs $3,000 a year and expressed an interest in seeing what other systems are available and what features they have. The yearly contract with CodeRED will expire on May 1, 2016.</span>
<span>"I hope to get more information in March on what's available," he said.</span>
<span>Discussion moved to possible new outdoor warning sirens to be added to the four the city already has.</span>
<span>Bargman said it would cost $26,000 for a new mechanical rotating siren; $28,000 for a modular siren that can transmit voice or prerecorded messages, and $49,000 to upgrade the current sirens to a two-way system that conducts self-checks to determine if it's working properly.</span>
<span>In a follow-up interview, Bargman said there are no plans on acting on the proposals in the near future, but are simply an informational item to make the Chester aldermen aware of prices for the sirens.</span>
<span>Bargman also updated the committee on riverfront damage due to the Mississippi River flooding that occurred earlier this summer.</span>
<span>He said the city's cost is $9,000 in lost rock that will be added to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA)'s totals.</span>
<span>"Hopefully, those funds will find their way back home since the state has met the threshold for federal assistance," Bargman said.</span>
<span>Coffey gave an update on his department's sergeant testing, with written exams to be conducted Thursday and interviews on Friday.</span>
<span>Chester's Board of Police and Fire Commissioners will then tabulate scores and will eventually recommend two candidates to fill the two sergeants spots at the Sept. 21 meeting of the Chester City Council.</span>
<span>Regarding the CPD's budget, Coffey said overtime costs are high and that September will be an expensive month due to the Popeye Picnic and various training initiatives.</span>
<span>"My hope is that we absorb some of that overtime during this fiscal year," he said.</span>
<span>The committee also spent a significant amount of time discussing the picnic, which is celebrating its 36th year. Previously, the city announced that State Street will not be closed this year for the event, with the exception of the parade.</span>
<span>Discussion centered around the city "taking a more active role" in establishing the picnic grounds for 2016, with talks to possibly begin after the conclusion of this year's event.</span>
<span>"From a public safety standpoint, I want to be in on the talks," Coffey said.</span>
<span>The next meeting of the Chester Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee is scheduled for Oct. 14 at 6 p.m.</span>