TEXARKANA, Texas - The City Council on Monday approved buying three new outdoor warning sirens at a cost of almost $72,000.
During a regular meeting, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the purchase, the first stage of a three-year plan to replace 12 of the city's 13 aging sirens. The cost was included in the current budget.
The purchase will include all software and hardware needed to upgrade the sirens' operating system at the dispatch center in the Bi-State Justice Building. The operating system is expandable to control other communities' siren systems, as well, allowing for a unified emergency response, Fire Chief Eric Schlotter told the Council.
One of the three new sirens will be installed at Spring Lake Park and include voice message capability to deliver emergency instructions to park visitors.
After an assessment by the city Sign and Signal Department, the other two new sirens will replace the current two in most disrepair. Crews will replace "everything except for the pole," Schlotter said.
The Council also heard a first briefing on minor ordinance changes related to outsourcing the city's alarm permit program.
In December, the Council voted unanimously to award a contract to PMAM Corp. to handle alarm permitting and fee collection. The company's automated system requires "technical changes" to the related ordinances. The changes eliminate a requirement to send notices through U.S. mail, for example.
Another first briefing concerned updating the city's Electrical Code. The changes would make clear that electricians' licensing exams are administered by the state and that conflicts with city electrical inspectors can be resolved without consulting a city electrical board. The penalty for a code violation that endangers public health would increase to $2,000.
Other first briefings during the meeting included the following zoning and permitting matters:
- revising a site plan to allow new signage for a collision center at 924 Kenwood Road;
- granting a specific use permit to allow a tattoo studio at 3216 Texas Boulevard; and
- rezoning a lot at 2720 Phillips Lane and granting a specific use permit to allow a double-wide manufactured home there.
The Council's next meeting is scheduled for March 9.