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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Maplesville Town Council approved moving forward with constructing a second storm shelter at its Sept. 13 meeting.

A preliminary quote of $97,460 was presented to the council during the meeting. The quote was from the same company that recently completed a storm shelter in the New Convert community, Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said.

The Chilton County Industrial Development Authority has assisted in helping the town secure funding for the project.

“We have applied for a Cawaco grant, and we will apply for a Holle (Foundation) grant,” Smitherman said.

The town also plans to use funds it receives from the American Rescue Plan Act toward the project.

“I think that would be an awesome way to serve the community, so there will be a place for everyone (in inclement weather),” Smitherman said.

Adding a second storm shelter had been requested by community members after the current shelter was at capacity during storms earlier this year.

The proposed storm shelter would be located near the community parks on Shanks Drive.

A timeline for the project is unknown at this time.

The police and fire departments gave grant updates during the Sept. 13 meeting.

Each department has applied for a Homeland Security grant. The police department would use the funds to purchase heavy duty laptops and docks for the patrol vehicles. The fire department grant would fund the purchase of P25 radios to be compatible with the countywide emergency communications system that is being constructed.

The fire department received approval to fix its bush truck, rather than purchasing a new one since one could not be found in the price range needed, and purchase a heavy-duty washer and dryer for cleaning turn out gear.

The council also approved:

• Allowing Mayor W.C. Hayes to look for a bucket truck to be used to fix streetlights and put up Christmas decorations. He was authorized to spend up to $4,000.
• A donation of $4,250 to the American Cancer Society specifically for transporting patients to chemotherapy treatments. Smitherman said this amount had already been designated in the budget.

Since Columbus Day is a holiday for the town of Maplesville, the next council meeting will be on the first Monday in October, Oct. 4, instead of the usual second Monday of the month.