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County to gather shelter information

Staff reporter

Marion County Emergency Management and Communications Director Michele Abbott-Becker asked Marion County Commission to consider an additional "layer" to the county's mapping system that would include information about individual shelters, basements, and underground facilities.

During the Oct. 31 meeting, Abbott-Becker said the information would be helpful in case of a disaster such as the tornado that hit Greensburg.

Information could be obtained from postcards sent to residents or from a form clipped from the newspaper.

In other business:

— Bids for a new vehicle for the emergency management department will be obtained by Abbott-Becker. She reported that the current vehicle her department uses to pull the trailer that carries emergency management equipment has 244,000 miles, has had repairs, and currently is in need of repairs.

Funds are available in the department's budget.

— Interest has been shown by other school districts regarding the application for grant funds for storm shelters.

Marion USD 408 received grant funds for a storm shelter to be built with the new gymnasium and indoor pool that currently is being constructed.

A meeting is planned at 1 p.m. Friday, tentatively at the USD 408 central office for those entities interested in shelters.

Other governmental entities also may qualify for the grant.

— Emergency 911 calls in October was higher than the previous October at 748.

— Retail sales revenue for August was the highest in more than seven years at $52,018.

— Abbott-Becker requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.

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