COLONA, Illinois -
As we approach spring storm season there will be nights when we go to sleep hoping, if severe weather strikes, we'll be warned.
But in one community some don't hear the sirens and they're alarmed to learn safety signals may have been going to waste.
Chris Williams has the 8 On Your Side investigation.
"i've heard the sirens outside here messing around in the yard. I know I wouldn't be able to hear them inside the house", said Level Acres resident Ray Moss.
East of Colona, in Level Acres subdivision, the closest working siren to Moss' house is the only working siren in town. It sits atop the fire station a couple of miles away. There are two more sirens closer to his home but they've sat in the city yard for up to two and a half years.
"I don't know if they work, to be truthful", Colona Public Works Director Rick Crews said.
He's investigated the issue lately, but here's what we found; Moline donated the sirens in the fall of 2006 while updating their own system. A former Northwest Henry County Disaster Agency member claims he delivered the sirens to the yard with the intent one could be put in Colona and the other in nearby Cleveland. Cleveland is also served by Colona's fire department.
We wondered why nothing was done. So last month, as the bright yellow sirens sat in the white snow, we spoke with the mayors of Colona and Cleveland and the fire chief.
One sighted logistical problems while another blamed the lack of a disaster agency director. All mentioned money issues.
Today Rick Crew gave us the results of his inquiry.
"The sirens are old, 40 to 50 years old. They're outdated. We cannot get replacement parts for them, and if we were to sink seven or eight thousand dollars to get them up and going, if something would happen to them we'd be out", Crew told us.
There was no "one" reason why it took so long to decide that, but Crew says when the issue came up before no one knew how to pay to test the donated sirens.
It's an excuse that doesn't sit well with every Level Acres resident.
"It ain't worth a darn", said Ray Moss. "I think they should serve the community and, if they were donated, I think they should put them up."
"The city is concerned about the public's welfare on these emergency sirens. We are looking into getting sirens installed", Crew responded.
Federal Signal made the sirens. They confirmed Crew's findings telling us the sirens are outdated and nearly impossible to get replacement parts for. Crew says the city may apply for a grant to fund new sirens. He imagines the city would donate the sirens to another city if they needed the parts. Federal Signal tells us the models are collectors pieces that people often buy and sell on the internet.
But in one community some don't hear the sirens and they're alarmed to learn safety signals may have been going to waste.
Chris Williams has the 8 On Your Side investigation.
"i've heard the sirens outside here messing around in the yard. I know I wouldn't be able to hear them inside the house", said Level Acres resident Ray Moss.
East of Colona, in Level Acres subdivision, the closest working siren to Moss' house is the only working siren in town. It sits atop the fire station a couple of miles away. There are two more sirens closer to his home but they've sat in the city yard for up to two and a half years.
"I don't know if they work, to be truthful", Colona Public Works Director Rick Crews said.
He's investigated the issue lately, but here's what we found; Moline donated the sirens in the fall of 2006 while updating their own system. A former Northwest Henry County Disaster Agency member claims he delivered the sirens to the yard with the intent one could be put in Colona and the other in nearby Cleveland. Cleveland is also served by Colona's fire department.
We wondered why nothing was done. So last month, as the bright yellow sirens sat in the white snow, we spoke with the mayors of Colona and Cleveland and the fire chief.
One sighted logistical problems while another blamed the lack of a disaster agency director. All mentioned money issues.
Today Rick Crew gave us the results of his inquiry.
"The sirens are old, 40 to 50 years old. They're outdated. We cannot get replacement parts for them, and if we were to sink seven or eight thousand dollars to get them up and going, if something would happen to them we'd be out", Crew told us.
There was no "one" reason why it took so long to decide that, but Crew says when the issue came up before no one knew how to pay to test the donated sirens.
It's an excuse that doesn't sit well with every Level Acres resident.
"It ain't worth a darn", said Ray Moss. "I think they should serve the community and, if they were donated, I think they should put them up."
"The city is concerned about the public's welfare on these emergency sirens. We are looking into getting sirens installed", Crew responded.
Federal Signal made the sirens. They confirmed Crew's findings telling us the sirens are outdated and nearly impossible to get replacement parts for. Crew says the city may apply for a grant to fund new sirens. He imagines the city would donate the sirens to another city if they needed the parts. Federal Signal tells us the models are collectors pieces that people often buy and sell on the internet.
