The city of St. Paul and Ramsey County are working together closer than ever on tornado warnings.

Ramsey County maintains 63 emergency sirens throughout the suburbs, but its management system is aging. The city of St. Paul replaced its 37 sirens in 2012 and upgraded its outdoor warning system to a management program called Federal Signal Commander.

Until now, the emergency activation software has been owned by the city but run by the county’s Emergency Communications Center on the city’s behalf.

Last week, the Ramsey County Board accepted an offer from the city for a friendly takeover of sorts. Ramsey County will now own and operate the Federal Signal Commander software, which can be expanded to control the suburban sirens, as well.

The cost of conveying ownership from St. Paul to Ramsey County is “zero dollars,” according to a board staff report — a gift freely given. Related Articles Frogtown Community Center unveils new artificial turf field, playground and outdoor fun

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The Federal Signal Commander package includes the controller in the Emergency Communications Center and transmitters on the City Hall-Courthouse and the Pointe condominium tower in downtown St. Paul. “Instead of two systems, the county and the city, now we’re only going to have one,” said Rick Larkin, director of St. Paul Emergency Management.

Ramsey County Commissioner Jim McDonough noted that the software will continue to allow emergency warnings for flash floods and other incidents to be localized to a particular city or area. McDonough called the ownership transfer an example of the city and county working together to improve efficiency.

St. Paul and suburban cities will retain ownership and maintenance responsibility for all the equipment at individual siren locations.