City asks for grant to fund civic center

There could be a civic center in Kilgore’s future.

The city stands a chance of getting a dualpurpose facility though the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program run by Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA).

Commissioners authorized City Manager Jeff Howell to apply for the federal grant which, if approved, would lead to the construction of a stand-alone community shelter that could also be used as a civic center.

Estimated project cost of the facility is between $4 and $5 million.

Howell said the 25/75 split grant is available statewide with priority given to communities affected by Hurricane Rita.

Howell said the split would be closer to 35/65 local/federal since the city would have to pick up the engineering fees.

“Kilgore, Gregg County and this region were all affected by Rita,” he said. “So we qualify in that area.”

Howell explained the “hazard mitigation” program as “actions taken either preor post-disaster to minimize damage or the need to respond in the next event.”

He said, “Mitigation is not happy with the status quo, but wants to know what can be done so that this does not happen again.”

Howell said the influx of evacuees during both Katrina and Rita left the area with a great number of people to house and no place to house them.

“In Kilgore we were lucky the churches stepped in to help,” he said. And “we need to be able to protect our citizens from high wind events by providing warning and shelter,” he said.

Howell said the structure would have to be able to withstand 250-mph winds and the impact of a 15-pound two-by-four traveling at 100 mph.

Howell said other factors to consider are accessibility and occupant comfort.

The building would be about 20,000 square feet, including 15,000 feet which could be used for sheltering people or for other events.

Howell said the facility cold be used for other purposes such as a civic center.

“We don’t want it just sitting there unused until a disaster,” he said.

The application is due by Jan. 27 and Howell said it “looks likely” Kilgore will receive the grant.

As for the city’s part of the funding, the city manager the city could partner with other entities such as the county, school district or even partner with private concerns.