Meeker County receives grant for warning sirens, to be placed on lakes

LITCHFIELD -- A grant received by the Meeker County Sheriff's office will be used to fund two outdoor warning sirens that will be placed on Lake Minnie Belle and Star Lake.

According to a news release from Sheriff Jeff Norlin, the $39,550 grant was received from the federal Homeland Security and Emergency Management, including the Department of Commerce, NOAA and National Weather Service.

The amount will cover the cost of installing two sirens that cost approximately $20,000 each.

Norlin also serves as the county's director of emergency management, and as such, applied for the grant for sirens on two Meeker County lakes that do not have such a warning system.

The sirens rotate 360 degrees and will benefit the surrounding rural population as well. They will be wirelessly activated from the county dispatch center. The hope is to have the sirens installed and operational before the start of severe weather season next year.

The county will continue to pursue grants for additional outdoor warning sirens on other lakes, specifically Lake Francis, Lake Jenny and Clear Lake.