The Drew County Quorum Court voted during their last meeting to phase out the severe weather alert sirens in the county as they go down for repairs.
The action came after Jesse Griffin, director of the Drew County Office of Emergency Management, said two of the county’s sirens were no longer operational due to the need to have new motors installed at the top of the towers. The Advance Monticellonian newspaper reported that two other towers need charge replacements.
The City of Monticello is responsible for towers located inside the city limits and will continue to maintain towers located at the hospital and Monticello schools.
Griffin said OEM is working with the University of Arkansas at Monticello to allow the school to control their siren. Currently, they have to contact OEM to have the siren set off.
In a related matter, the Quorum Court voted to appropriate $7,500 to purchase weather radios to be given to county residents with a trash account in the county. Griffin said the radios can also be purchased at Walmart for $14.95.
