Harwood early warning system now operational

Harwood's new early warning tornado siren has been erected in the village's park and is now operational.

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

The Blue Public Safety Company Inc. of Grain Valley, Mo. finished installing a new Early Warning System in the village of Harwood, Thursday, June 9, by mounting the three-tiered unit atop a pole in the city park.

The new tornado siren, acquired with a USDA Rural Development Grant and municipal funds totalling almost $12,000, is just the beginning of changes taking place in the small community.

After applying several times and finally receiving a Missouri State Community Development Block Grant for $150,000, the city is proceeding with plans to pave its main road, put signs on all of the streets, and make some other needed improvements.

It has taken a lot of time and hard work by the former mayor, Dick Robinson, current mayor,Christofer Garzee, city council members, the city clerk, and many others.

"I'm glad this is finally coming to a close," said clerk, Steve Büttorff.

Despite the problems inherent to such an undertaking, the clerk thought some of the people and organizations that helped with this project needed to be acknowledged.

"Bryan Bell was instrumental in getting Aquila to donate a pole. If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have had a pole," said Büttorff.

Now that the warning system is in operation, Harwood can get on with the business of paving the road and installing street signs throughout the city. Unaware of the warning system until last week but hopeful of the economic benefits of the improvements, long-time resident Eddie Reasoner said, "The streets are definitely a good thing."

Büttorff has already plotted all of the homes and properties for assigning addresses and all of the survey work is done.

"Gary Phillips of Whitehead Consultants in Clinton, Mo. deserves some recognition, because he has done a lot of good work on the survey," said Büttorff.

Büttorff and the citizens of Harwood are not going to rest on their laurels any time soon. They are already trying to find more money, in the form of a recreation grant, to make more improvements to the city infrastructure.