Casey to Donate Surplus Tornado Siren to Village of Westfield

Casey City Council Meeting | April 20, 2026

Article Summary: The City of Casey will draft a formal resolution to donate a surplus, repairable tornado siren to the neighboring Village of Westfield, providing an essential emergency warning system to a community that currently has none.

Siren Donation Key Points:

• Westfield is currently the only municipality in the county without a tornado siren due to financial constraints.

• The Clark County Board recently approved covering the estimated $7,500 cost to repair the siren’s circuit board and install it in Westfield.

• City Attorney Tracy Willenborg confirmed the intergovernmental donation is legally permissible.

• The Casey City Council reached a consensus to draft a formal resolution for a final vote in May.

The Casey City Council on Monday, April 20, 2026, reached a unanimous consensus to donate a surplus tornado siren to the neighboring Village of Westfield, a move designed to provide a vital emergency warning system to a community currently lacking one.

The discussion arose after Casey previously voted to acquire new tornado sirens for its own grid. Following the upgrade, the city was left with an older siren that, while currently out of service, is fully repairable. Rather than sending the unit to a scrap pile, city officials explored the possibility of transferring it to Westfield.

“They’re the only town we have in the county that does not have a tornado siren because they can’t afford it,” officials noted during the meeting, adding that Westfield leaders were “extremely excited” about the possibility. “Those kids go to school with our kids, and it’s all for one and one for all.”

According to discussions at the board table, EMA Director David Craig obtained a quote indicating it would cost approximately $7,500 to repair the siren’s circuit board and erect the tower. The Clark County Board recently approved funding to cover those complete repair and installation costs for Westfield, meaning the City of Casey only needs to provide the equipment. The equipment is already located at the county shop.

Mayor Mike Nichols sought legal clarification from City Attorney Tracy Willenborg on how to properly execute the transfer, questioning whether the city needed to “sell it to them for a dollar” or if a straight donation was allowed.

“Making donations is usually prohibited, but if there’s intergovernmental agreement kind of things, you can do that,” Willenborg advised the council. “This is an allowable kind of donation. Unfortunately—and I hate this, but it’s the reality with public funds—you can’t donate to a benefit… you can’t donate to political things with public funds. So, this one is allowable.”

Willenborg instructed the city to draft a formal resolution to dispose of personal property. The council universally agreed to the plan and will officially vote on the resolution during their first meeting in May. Mayor Nichols also requested that, once the siren is operational, Casey personnel spend time training Westfield officials on its proper operation.