By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
COLUMBUS, Kan. — The Cherokee County commissioners have approved a resolution to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for 18 storm sirens in rural communities.
The amount of the grant sought by the county is $298,301.
Jason Allison, the county’s emergency management director, presented information about the grant to the commissioners on Monday. He said the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission is writing the grant and would administer it if it is approved.
Allison said the grant would require no matching funds from the county, and that federal stimulus funds may be part of the grant award.
He said he expects grant awards to be announced by fall. He said that if the grant is approved, he hopes to have the warning sirens in place by spring.
The communities that would benefit from the grant include Neutral, Crestline, Sherwood, Melrose and Treece.
In another matter, Cindy Harrold, director of the Columbus campus of Coffeyville Community College, told the commissioners the new building just off U.S. Highway 160 is nearly complete. She said students are expected to start classes Aug. 19.
The new, 10,500-square-foot building will include welding and construction technology programs. Its cost is $903,000.
Harrold was consulting with the commissioners about completion of an entrance road from the highway.
Radio tower
The Cherokee County commissioners on Monday approved erecting a radio tower at the county road department at a cost of $45,540. The commissioners said insurance would pay part of the cost, and some of the cost may be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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