GAS — Installation of five additional storm shelters, rated at 12 people each, will start soon.
Steve Robb, city superintendent, told council members Tuesday evening he wanted to have the shelters ready for use before severe spring weather could be expected.
Two are in use, near City Hall and at Humphrey and Second streets. New ones will be at Fees Park, Stanley and Third streets, East Walnut Street and at the ends of Barney Lane and South Morrell Street.
A single large shelter to hold at least 60 people was planned, but was shelved when a Community Development Block Grant was denied. The $60,000 grant would have been matched by local cash of $15,000 — now it will be used for the smaller shelters — and in-kind contributions of labor.
Robb said Gas would “try again for the grant next year.” If built, the larger shelter would be near the old Gas School that houses USD 257’s Crossroads program and has spacious parking.
A SECOND major public works project will be painting the exterior of the Gas water tower in the northwest part of town.
Water Tower Maintenance, Pittsburg, will do the work for $31,000.
The water tower was erected in 1972 and its exterior hasn’t been painted since, said Robb, although “the interior has been done a time or two.” A check in 2008 by divers found its interior free of problems.
Council members also will decide in late spring whether to lease space on the tower for KwiKom Communications, Iola, to place access points so the wireless Internet company can offer service to Gas residents.
John Vogel, KwiKom president, said the company had had frequent inquiries from Gas residents but didn’t have antennas close enough to provide service. KwiKom has access points on LaHarpe, Iola and Humboldt water towers, as well as others owned by towns and rural water districts from just south of Ottawa to Erie.
Vogel, who merged a company he started in Elsmore in 2004 with KwiKom on Jan. 1, 2010, said mid-summer access would be acceptable. Two dishes, no larger than 30 inches in diameter, and three small antennas, at 120-degree intervals on the elevated tank’s perimeter, would be required. Also, a small enclosure would be needed at the base of the tower to convert 110-volt power to 15-18 volts for the dishes and antennas.
KwiKom would place the equipment and maintain it, Vogel said.
Gas Mayor Darrell Catron, recalling KwiKom asked about a tower lease in 2009 but never followed through, said council members would look at neighboring facilities where KwiKom has apparatus and give an answer later. If installation were done, Catron said he would prefer it occur after the water tower was painted.
Vogel said the company paid as little as $100 a year and as much as $100 a month for leases.
CITY CLERK Rhonda Hill was authorized to spend $1,200 for a vault — one commonly referred to as a gun safe — for document storage.
The vault will be purchased at Orscheln’s in Iola.
