Council to seek disaster preparedness grants

Published 10:07 pm Tuesday, January 3, 2006

HANCEVILLE — City Council members discussed possible plans for a new community storm shelter and other emergency preparations during their planning session Tuesday night.

The governing body will vote Monday night whether they should apply for state grant money to fund the projects.

If approved, the resolution could bring an 80-100-person storm shelter, a generator for the fire department, new storm sirens and a host of other improvements.

“It’s pretty much guaranteed that you will get at least some of these things funded (if you apply),” said Phyllis Little, director of the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency, who served as an advisor during the session.

According to Little, the state currently has about $80 million in grant money for disaster preparedness, but the city council must apply for it by Sunday to take advantage.

If approved, the funds will come to the city as a 75/25-percent split, meaning that the city will cover one quarter of the cost.

The total amount to be applied for and the specifics of the improvements are not yet available. According to Mayor Katie Whitley, they will be settled at a later meeting.

In addition to the specifics, Whitley said the council will also be required to form a three-to five-year plan for emergency preparedness if their grants are approved.

Those plans will detail requests for even more improvements, which could include a generator for the town’s water supply and storm warning radios for the Wallace State Community College dormitories, local hotels and nursing homes.

Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Watson was also in attendance during the session, to discuss possible features for the storm shelter.

Watson said he wanted the structure to have heat, bathrooms and cooking areas, so that it could double as an temporary evacuation center.

“Right now we’re looking at one to two days for evacuation time, just until other arrangements can be made,” said Watson.

Whitley said that they were hoping to use city-owned property located just behind James’ Auto Parts on Main Street.

She said future plans could also use the shelter for a community center and even a foundation for a possible new fire department.



Industrial park

The council also discussed the possibility of buying 27 acres for the purpose of a Hanceville Industrial Park.

According to Whitley, the property is located adjacent the town’s sewage treatment plant with an asking price of $8,000 per acre. That comes to a total of $216,000.

The consensus of the council seemed to be that the town could afford between $5,000 and $6,000 per acre.

If purchased, the town will also have to build an access road and tear down an old house on the property.

Utilities are reported to be available.