Uniontown city leaders providing shelters

Loretta George/Tribune photo Uniontown Mayor Larry Jurgensen points out the spot where a new storm shelter will be located north of the Uniontown Fire Station. At right is City Clerk Sally Johnson. Another shelter will be located on the south side of town. The shelters will be funded by a Community Block Development Grant awarded July 20.

Uniontown City Council members have taken a step towards preparing for and protecting against a tornado in their town.

On July 20 the council received notice of being awarded a 2015 Kansas Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The community improvement grant is for $110,000. The award provides for financing for the storm shelter project and is contingent on receipt of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Development, according to the award notice.

Laura Moore, Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission (SKRPC), gave a description of the proposed storm shelter project to the council during the public hearing May 26, according the Uniontown City Council minutes.

The project included installing three pre-cast storm shelters, two at Fifth and Sherman street and one at First and Washington street. However, only two storm shelters were funded.

In addition, the grant application included replacing the concrete slab floor of the southeast shelter house in Uniontown's park and added a sidewalk in the park. This part of the project was not funded.

The total project cost given on the application was estimated at $158,900.