Tornado warning sirens were on the minds of the Smithville mayor and aldermen during last Monday night’s regular monthly meeting.

Mayor Josh Miller raised the issue during a work session last month with the aldermen and Smithville Fire Chief and DeKalb Emergency Management Agency Director Charlie Parker.

Automated tornado sirens strategically placed across the city could be set up to activate when tornado warnings are issued for this area. When the siren is activated, it would sound alerting the public to seek shelter immediately.

Currently the city’s only outdoor warning alert is an antiquated siren atop the city hall building.

Since the work session last month Parker has contacted a company which conducted a survey of the town and made a recommendation on a system for the City of Smithville. In the package, Parker said the city would get two sirens, placed near either the hospital or high school, and at the airport. The projected costs for the sirens and automated software system to trigger it would be about $73,000. While the survey showed that two sirens would be sufficient to cover the city limits, Parker said the system would have the capability of adding more sirens if needed.

The mayor and aldermen will consider including funding for tornado sirens for the 2020-21 fiscal year during budget preparation meetings which are expected to begin soon.

Also discussed was whether or not the city pool would open for the season.

The aldermen delayed a decision on that until next month after Mayor Josh Miller raised the question.

The pool normally opens to the public on Memorial Day weekend in May.

After acting on his own to close the golf course to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Miller said he wanted the aldermen to make the call on the pool.

“I think it’s too early for us to make that call right now. I don’t think we can do anything until we know when these stay at home and shelter in place orders from the Governor are lifted,” said Alderman Gayla Hendrix.

“I personally don’t think the pool should open and I don’t have any pool chemicals for this year. I can order stuff (chemicals) but it will just sit there if you don’t open the pool,” said City Public Works Director Kevin Robinson.

“Right now we know we are sheltered (under the Governor’s orders) until the end of this month but this could last until the end of May and we don’t know what June will bring. Its feasible we could even open by late June instead of late May if things change and maybe keep the pool open an extra month,” said Alderman Hendrix.

“The problem with that may be “are these lifeguards (many of them teenagers) going to hang around” asked Mayor Miller.

“You can’t stay open an extra month because they (lifeguards) will be going back to school. We have never been able to have them stay after August 1. They all go back to school,,” added Robinson.

“Maybe. That’s another thing we don’t know yet (when schools will open),” Alderman Hendrix said.

“Well if they don’t go back to school we won’t have the pool open anyway. But I agree it’s too early to make a decision,” said Alderman Brandon Cox.

“How hard would it be if we made a late decision to open as far as getting the pool chemicals” asked Alderman Cox.

“I need to know a month in advance. We still have to pressure wash and clean it (pool) and I will have to order the chemicals,” said Robinson.

Even if the pool opens this summer, Mayor Miller said the city may have to limit its hours of operation due to the lack of lifeguards.

“I talked to (Pool Manager) Jeania (Cawthorn) today (Monday) because last month we were concerned about life guards. Jeania told me she might have 8 or 9 lifeguards lined up and this time last year we had 20 lifeguards so even if the pool opened and if we were not talking about COVID-19, Jeania said the pool probably could not be open except for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays this year,” said Mayor Miller.

“If the pool is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, remember we’re still having to add chemicals Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (adding to the costs),” added Robinson.