Durham council discusses emergency sirens
Contributing writer
In spite of inclement weather a number of citizens attended the city council meeting at Durham March 4 to address the issue of storm warnings.
Cindy Nuss requested the city to have an emergency siren installed. Nuss had collected 67 names on a petition in favor of the siren. She reported she had checked into the possibility of a grant for the purpose, but had found none available.
In further discussion of the issue, Councilman Gary Unruh said he had received a note from the chief meteorologist at Channel 12 (KWCH) television station saying that sirens are not particularly effective. Often people inside their homes do not hear them.
Other methods of warning residents of tornadoes in the area were discussed. Unruh brought his weather radio and demonstrated how they work. Ray Davis stated he will try to get storm spotters organized.
In other business Mayor Glennon Crowther announced that April 19 has been set as the date for a hazardous waste pickup in Durham. The mayor also has been trying to set up the annual cleanup day, but reported he is still working on finding a date.
Marvin Rediker, water supervisor, informed the council that a report on water testing showed all samples were good. He mentioned that he had been approached about the leasing of land near the water wells for oil drilling; however, he had acted in cooperation with officers of Rural Water District #1 to assure this will not take place. During February, 390,530 gallons of water were pumped, an average of 13,947 per day. The lift pump ran 38 hours.
Verlin Sommerfeld reported he would probably have to turn off one water meter on Wednesday since the bill remained unpaid.
A letter from Westar Energy announced that street lights with mercury bulbs are being phased out.
In his capacity as fire chief, Sommerfeld asked for another door to be placed on the north side of the fire station. He also informed the council that he plans to discuss with the fire board the possibility of applying for a grant to purchase another fire truck.
Among the bills approved for payment was one for $341.72 to Jim's Plumbing for replacing two water meters. The city's insurance must be paid in April, but the amount was not known. The mayor said he will confer with Loren Barton at Central National Bank and come up with an agreement.
