City receives grant for tornado sirens

   MONONA — The City of Monona has received word of funding for its long-awaited outdoor warning siren replacement project. That word came down last Monday during the City’s regular council meeting at City Hall.

   The city had first sought grant funding for the sirens in 2017, though Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) funding was not available at the time due to natural disasters elsewhere in the country. The Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management Division approved Monona’s application for $39,850 as part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

   Sirens will be located on South Page Street near Monona Elementary and at the city’s water plant between North Page and  Coverage will include the entire city limits and some areas just outside the community. The sirens are meant for outdoor warning and are not intended to be heard indoors throughout the coverage area.

   Mayor Lynn “Marty” Martinson said the two sirens are meant to provide the same coverage that the city’s three current sirens provide. The siren located at City Park will not be replaced by a new siren. He suggested that the city approach Luana, which has older sirens than Monona, to see if they would want to purchase Monona’s old sirens at a minimal cost. City Administrator Dan Canton said Alliant Energy will supply the City with two new poles for the sirens at no cost. He said it could take two months or more before the sirens can be installed.

For more of this story see the April 10 Outlook.