With last week’s devastating reminder that severe weather season is upon us, Ellis County is considering the future of the outdoor warning sires most of which were purchased in 1979. The county has to consider the age of the sirens, the impending narrow-banding of the frequency used to trigger them and the cost for upgrading or replacement. Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Ring says there are two areas that need outdoor warning sires, the fairgrounds and the new sports complex.

With the growth of Hays, the county has two sirens that are in the city limits. The commission wants to try to move those sirens to the fairgrounds and sports complex. The commissioners also have asked for tests on both the range of the older sirens and the affect of the frequency change.