ELLINWOOD — City tornado sirens have been randomly sounding in the middle of the night in error, the Ellinwood City Council heard as its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Ellinwood Fire Chief Chris Komarek reported that after the system was upgraded to narrow band earlier this year , the sirens have gone off in the middle of the night on at least three occasions for no reason. City Administrator Robert Peter said that Motorola is looking into the cause, and now that storm season is over, they are turned off. The sirens can be activated by emergency personnel if needed.

"It is just as annoying to me as it is to everyone else," said Komarek.

In other business, the city has implemented a new sidewalk repair and replacement cost sharing program in residential areas. The program has been funded for $5,000. The program applies only to sidewalks on city right-of-way.

In an effort to encourage replacement of damaged sidewalks, the city will assist in the removal of existing sidewalks on residential properties when a new sidewalk will be constructed. Requests for admittance into the program must be made with the city and will be honored on a first come, first serve basis, with a priority given to those based on need and severity.

If the removal of a tree is necessary, the city will have the option of removing the tree. If the city declines to remove the tree, the city will pay 50 percent or $500 whichever is less.

In addition, the city will pay up to 50 percent or $500 of the cost of new materials for the sidewalk, whichever is less. The street department head and city administrator would review and approve all estimates. The sidewalk must cover the full length of the property.

A full guideline is available from the city.

Resident Steve Flakus was present to review the trailer parking ordinance, but said the ordinance doesn’t get taken care of.

Police Chief Art Keffer said he has been enforcing the ordinance and would be happy to enforce it the way the council told him to. If the trailer is hitched to a vehicle, then he considers it a part of the vehicle, he said.

Peter said, "We’ve tried to use common sense (in the ordinance) but it’s up to the council."

"It doesn’t say anything about hitching a trailer to a vehicle in the ordinance," said Flakus.

Council member Gaila Nielsen said that Keffer’s job is to interpret the ordinance.

The council took no action and directed Peter to review the matter for the next meeting.

In other business, Peter will draft on ordinance filing liens on rental property with uncollected utility bills.

In addition, in Peter’s administrative report, the council heard:

• The old cooling towers from the electric plant have been sold.

• The city is having trouble with a water pump.

• The city will start tree trimming soon.

• The south ball field has been reseeded.

• Barton Community College brought a class over to tour the power plant.