Warrior a step closer to storm shelter

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June 15, 2012

Warrior a step closer to storm shelter

By Melanie Patterson North Jefferson News The North Jefferson News Fri Jun 15, 2012, 12:23 PM CDT

NORTH JEFFERSON — The city of Warrior is making headway in its attempt to obtain a storm shelter for its residents.

On Monday, the Warrior City Council voted to submit a grant application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a 75/25 grant to build a shelter that would hold 30 individuals.

Councilman Johnny Ragland said the shelter would be well-used.

“A lot of people use city hall when there’s a storm,” he said.

If FEMA approves the grant, the city’s part of the funding would be $25,000.

City Councilman Brad Fuller said he is concerned about the city having to provide funds for the shelter.

“I’m for us getting this shelter, I’m just concerned about the money; the $25,000 the city has to come up with,” he said.

However, that total could be decreased if the city can provide in-kind funding. The land upon which the shelter would be built, near the former Alabama National Guard armory on Cane Creek Road, is currently appraised at $3,000. That would bring the city’s cash requirement down to $22,000.

In addition, city workers could possibly do some of the site work, which could further decrease the price by a few thousand dollars.

Mayor Rena Hudson said the city could clear the area of trees and remove the debris.

She also said Warrior does have the funds available for the city to meet its part of the grant.

“The money is there,” she said. “It’s not in the general fund, it’s in the capital improvement account.”

Warrior had previously applied for a grant, but it turned out that the company building the shelter did not meet specifications.

“We had to go back and find one that would meet specs, and the cost went up,” said Chester Jolly of Warrior, whose son Chris Jolly is writing the FEMA grant for Warrior. Chester Jolly was at Monday’s meeting to explain aspects of the grant to the city council.

“We had to re-estimate. That’s the reason for the re-approval,” he said. “We have all the paperwork done now so we can submit it.”

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Warrior a step closer to storm shelter

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