Brookhaven and Lincoln County leaders moved closer thisweek to a long-awaited and much-needed weather warning system forthe city and county.

    Supervisors Doug Moak and Gary Walker and Aldermen David Phillipsand Dorsey Cameron were named to a committee to study weatherwarning system possibilities along with Clifford Galey,Brookhaven-Lincoln County Civil Defense director. State supervisorsand municipal leaders convention schedule conflicts will keep localleaders’ attention from the system discussions for another week orso, but plans to hold the talks are a major step in the rightdirection.

    According to Galey’s research, the city and county can implement aphone, e-mail and text messaging alert system for at most $10,000to $15,000 a year. At Monday’s supervisors’ meeting, he alluded tosome communities where their private business sectors have beenimpressed with the warning system and agreed to cover the costs inexchange for involvement in the alert process.

    Leaders appear to be taking a prudent course of action in desiringan “opt-in” aspect of the weather warning system. Mayor LesBumgarner deemed that component “critical” to the system’ssuccess.

    With the opt-in, residents would be able to sign up to be notifiedof weather alerts, as opposed to system operators arbitrarilyincluding everyone in alert plans. Some residents – for whateverreason – may just not want to be bothered with weather warnings,and the opt-in provision will accommodate their desires.

    Bumgarner said the messaging system would be the first step for thecity, with weather sirens the next possible course of action. Thatwould certainly add another layer of weather alert protection forthe city.

    Supervisors, concerned about siren coverage costs for an area thesize of Lincoln County, sounded more interested in weatherradios.

    If grants are not available to provide radios to the public,citizens obtaining them on their own would be a pro-active coursetoward better weather warnings. Galey has said previously that thedevices have come up in quality and come down in price in recentyears.

    “We need to keep pushing this weather radio deal,” said DistrictThree Supervisor Nolan Earl Williamson.

    Whether messaging alerts or sirens, either would be a big step upfrom the nonexistent system this area has had for a number ofyears. Perhaps Bumgarner summed up the situation best.

    “We’ve kicked this can down the road long enough. It’s time to dosomething,” the mayor said.

    Exactly. Instead of kicking the can, local leaders are ready topick up the ball and run with it toward better weather alerts andwarnings for the community.