Brookfield trustees may resolve to let voters choose on putting a siren system into the township in case of emergency.

Trustee Chairman Phil Schmidt said that after the tornado hit Clark last month, he received several phone calls from residents regarding the township's siren system. The alarm system in Clark failed the night of the tornado because of a power outage.

Schmidt said Brookfield voters had the chance to install an alarm system four years ago, but the ballot measure was voted down by a large margin -- about 2 to 1.

The last estimates showed that an alarm system would cost about $100,000 for six sirens scattered randomly throughout the township, said Fire Chief Keith Barrett.

He said alarms helped save the lives of children in Van Wert, Ohio, who were at a movie matinee showing of "The Santa Clause II." A theater manager heard sirens and took patrons, including many children, to a safe location before the tornado damaged the theater.

Schmidt said it would be left up to taxpayers to support the system, since the money can't come from the general fund.

Schmidt said trustees haven't discussed placing the matter on the ballot again, but added "it may be worth it."

"We would need a committee to promote it," he said.

In the meantime, Schmidt suggests residents could purchase frequency radios for their homes. The radios pick up weather alerts and sound siren-type warnings in emergency alerts. The radios cost about $40, Schmidt said.