Been a LONG time. Good to be back and new siren opportunity!
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:38 pm
Greetings from Mayfield Township, Lapeer County, Michigan all!
It's been a LONG time since I actively pursued this website. I remember hours spent almost daily during my college years through 2001, when Adam Smith first created this site. Was so excited with the wealth of information posted on here, and laughed at the fact that there were MANY other siren fanatics out there! Also happy to see that Jason is still involved... I remember him from the beginning as well along with old school people such as Dave Fritz. Good times and memories!
Over the past few years I had the opportunity to work closely with our local township board in the site selection process for the installation of two new warning sirens (we previously had NONE). Here is the journey of things:
1. It all started with my offer to the township to donate my yellow Model 2 I purchased from Blake Woods (some of you old schoolers may remember that name) to put into service in my subdivision area where my home is. I figured it was better than nothing, but realized of its severe range limits. That got the ball rolling for the township board to meet with the West Shore Services rep and got them thinking about first a used couple of Thunderbeams but then ultimately 2001-130 sirens.
2. Two summers ago the process began to begin staking out location sites. This was a real trip let me tell you. A lot of back and forth between some members of the township board about whether or not the township attorney needed to get involved to write up easements and/or "permission slips" from property owners to install a siren near them. Of course, the residential potentials said a resounding NO. Even if some of the staked sites were in the right of way of the road or utilities, some on the board STILL wanted the resident's permission. I wouldn't signed off in a heartbeat, but my home lot did not have access to the needed power source. Locations for one of the sirens literally changed four or five times before all was said and done. It was at this point I offered to get involved and suggested locations nearest our two most populated areas that were near businesses, and I personally spoke with one of the owners of the business right down from me and he was glad to help to offer the installation site. The attorney still drew up the agreements, and thankfully, two business owners signed off. Whew! From discussion with other nearby areas, I learned that MOST did not consult an attorney to draft such agreements, and simply place the sirens in road rights of way.
3. After all that circus, the sirens finally arrived early this year. I had the great opportunity, during my LONG lunch break, to take a drive by the site one mile from my house and talk with the West Shore installation crew. They were gracious to show me the ins and outs of installation and that was greatly appreciated.
4. I was on hand last weekend for our monthly 1.00 pm county wide siren test to feel/hear the full effect. Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY grateful that we are protected now by these two sirens; however, an issue that I've heard plenty about online does seem to be somewhat true about these 2001 sirens. IMO, nothing still beats the sound of the Thunderbolts. What I did notice is that the rotor on the 2001 seemed to try to race faster at times during the 3 minute alert cycle, and the siren just didn't seem to have that great of a tone (not that that really matters if a tornado is bearing down I guess). Just an observation. Anyone else notice this tone issue with the 2001-130 sirens? And then today I saw the Federal Model 508 on their website... a lower tone version... intriguing.
Well, that was my journey and my hand in the project. Thanks for letting me share, and hope to hear back! Take care everyone!
It's been a LONG time since I actively pursued this website. I remember hours spent almost daily during my college years through 2001, when Adam Smith first created this site. Was so excited with the wealth of information posted on here, and laughed at the fact that there were MANY other siren fanatics out there! Also happy to see that Jason is still involved... I remember him from the beginning as well along with old school people such as Dave Fritz. Good times and memories!
Over the past few years I had the opportunity to work closely with our local township board in the site selection process for the installation of two new warning sirens (we previously had NONE). Here is the journey of things:
1. It all started with my offer to the township to donate my yellow Model 2 I purchased from Blake Woods (some of you old schoolers may remember that name) to put into service in my subdivision area where my home is. I figured it was better than nothing, but realized of its severe range limits. That got the ball rolling for the township board to meet with the West Shore Services rep and got them thinking about first a used couple of Thunderbeams but then ultimately 2001-130 sirens.
2. Two summers ago the process began to begin staking out location sites. This was a real trip let me tell you. A lot of back and forth between some members of the township board about whether or not the township attorney needed to get involved to write up easements and/or "permission slips" from property owners to install a siren near them. Of course, the residential potentials said a resounding NO. Even if some of the staked sites were in the right of way of the road or utilities, some on the board STILL wanted the resident's permission. I wouldn't signed off in a heartbeat, but my home lot did not have access to the needed power source. Locations for one of the sirens literally changed four or five times before all was said and done. It was at this point I offered to get involved and suggested locations nearest our two most populated areas that were near businesses, and I personally spoke with one of the owners of the business right down from me and he was glad to help to offer the installation site. The attorney still drew up the agreements, and thankfully, two business owners signed off. Whew! From discussion with other nearby areas, I learned that MOST did not consult an attorney to draft such agreements, and simply place the sirens in road rights of way.
3. After all that circus, the sirens finally arrived early this year. I had the great opportunity, during my LONG lunch break, to take a drive by the site one mile from my house and talk with the West Shore installation crew. They were gracious to show me the ins and outs of installation and that was greatly appreciated.
4. I was on hand last weekend for our monthly 1.00 pm county wide siren test to feel/hear the full effect. Don't get me wrong, I'm VERY grateful that we are protected now by these two sirens; however, an issue that I've heard plenty about online does seem to be somewhat true about these 2001 sirens. IMO, nothing still beats the sound of the Thunderbolts. What I did notice is that the rotor on the 2001 seemed to try to race faster at times during the 3 minute alert cycle, and the siren just didn't seem to have that great of a tone (not that that really matters if a tornado is bearing down I guess). Just an observation. Anyone else notice this tone issue with the 2001-130 sirens? And then today I saw the Federal Model 508 on their website... a lower tone version... intriguing.
Well, that was my journey and my hand in the project. Thanks for letting me share, and hope to hear back! Take care everyone!
And yes I'm still helping to hold the fort down.