Cape Girardeau to give money to other governments for storm sirens

Two local cities and Cape Girardeau County soon may be able to boost their ability to provide early warnings of storms and other emergencies.

Cape Girardeau's city council plans to give the county, Scott City and Jackson each a portion of an adjacent-community fund created when Isle Casino Cape Girardeau opened last fall. Three percent of the money generated by taxes and fees from the casino's operation goes into the fund, which the council plans to share with nearby communities each year.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger said Monday that discussions among officials in the cities and county are driving the council toward appropriating the money -- about $78,000 -- for supporting new emergency warning siren projects in Jackson, Scott City and Cape Girardeau County.

Council members unanimously, yet informally, agreed during Monday's council meeting that the money should go for that purpose. The council plans to vote on an appropriation ordinance at its next regular meeting.

"I can't think of a better way to use the money," said Councilman Mark Lanzotti. "This is just a really good idea."

The money is planned to be split based on the population of the cities and the county.

Though not officially collaborative, an effort has been ongoing in the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson, as well as out in the county, to increase the number of warning sirens.

Associate Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Paul Koeper said the approximately $40,000 the county may receive from Cape Girardeau will go a long way toward helping the county reach a $95,000 match required for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to add warning sirens in 18 small towns. In recent months, Koeper and other county officials have worked with utility companies, local businesses and other entities to raise the money for the match. With the city's contribution, the county probably will have about $90,000 for the project, Koeper said.

The towns and villages of Burfordville, Daisy, Delta, Dutchtown, Egypt Mills, Friedheim, Fruitland, Gordonville, Millersville, New Wells, Oak Ridge, Old Appleton, Oriole, Pocahontas, Randles, Shawneetown, Tilsit and Whitewater could receive warning sirens from the project. Koeper said he hopes it can be completed by October 2014, if not sooner.

Cape Girardeau County, according to records from the National Weather Service, experiences one to four severe weather events each year that contain confirmed tornadoes. The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department will activate the sirens based on National Weather Service warnings and other emergency declarations.

Cape Girardeau also added new warning sirens with money from a separate casino revenue fund earlier this year.

eragan@semissourian.com

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