ASHLAND — Ashland County commissioners approved the purchase of a new, solar powered tornado siren on Thursday.
The new siren will replace an old one just barely located on private property in Ruggles Township. Officials there plan on relocating the new siren on township-owned property, likely at its meeting place at 1359 U.S. Route 224.
County commissioners approved the $31,558 purchase on Thursday.
Ashland County EMA Director Anne Strouth said she will put in the order for the equipment so that the new siren can be operational within a month or two.
Strouth said the siren in Ruggles will be the second to be replaced this year, which puts the county on track to meet its goal to replace three every year. The county owns 21.
The EMA replaced one already this year, back in March or April. That project involved removing a World War II-era siren located on Sarver Paving’s property. That siren was also wired to Sarver’s building.
The new siren, also solar- and battery-powered, was installed nearby in Brookside Park.
The next siren on the list to be replaced, Strouth said, is located at Dale Roy School, 1256 Center St.