Medina village looks into community notification alert system

MEDINA – The Village Board is looking into a community mass alert system where residents would be notified of watermain breaks, road closures and other urgent situations or critical events.

The village could use part of its federal American Rescue Plan Act for the system, which would be about $4,000 a year through Hyper-Reach, a company based in Rochester.

Medina village officials have reached out to town leaders in Shelby and Ridgeway to see if they want to be part of the system. The alerts could be tailored to each community if they are specific to Shelby, Ridgeway or Medina, said Jessica Marciano, a Medina village trustee who is spearheaded the effort.

Residents could select their preferred option to be notified: by text, phone call or email.

“It wouldn’t be for chicken barbecues,” Marciano said. “It could be watermain breaks, road closures, weather-related emergencies. Things where your life is affected.”

She cited a recent watermain break on Park Avenue on a Saturday. Many in the community wondered what was going on and the village office was closed because it was the weekend.

Marciano expects it will be a learning curve with the system as the community decides how frequently it wants a notice. Perhaps public hearings and government meetings could be included.

She is hopeful the village and town governments will decide soon about the alert system. The company has offered to do trainings and distribute information on signing up.