ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — If all goes smoothly and everything is approved, the City of Robertsdale could have a new storm shelter and three backup generators as a result of grant money through the Hazard Mitigation Grant program, funded and administered through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

A motion was passed by all council members Monday morning to select Stacy McKean of Premier Grant Consulting in Fairhope as the grant administrator. McKean, who has had extensive experience writing grants for hazard mitigation and has secured funding for three storm shelters (Satsuma, Chickasaw and Bay Minette) explained to the council there is $160 million up for grabs with this grant and said Robertsdale is in a good position to be able to receive a portion of that funding for their projects. A specific dollar amount will not be known until the grant is approved.

“Because of the recent tornados, cities across the state are eligible for money and it is only available in the aftermath of a natural disaster when a disaster declaration has been made. This is a 75/ 25 percent grant where FEMA will pay 75 and the city is responsible for the other 25 percent. This can come from in-kind or cash sources and my thinking is the city could get 12 1/2 percent from cash and 121/2 percent from in-kind sources. This would work out well, I believe,” McKean said.

Smith said the generators range between $70-140,000 each and come in diesel and natural gas models and this way the city will have plenty of backup if the power is out for an extended period of time during a natural disaster. Applications are due on September 1.

The property for the storm shelter, located on Chicago Street around the BRATS (Baldwin Rural Area Transportation Service) and Sheriff’s office, is a 26 acre field right now the City acquired in 2007, Smith said, but would house the shelter and Public Works offices as well if the grant was approved.

The shelter would be for city employees and first responders to use for a command center and gathering place and with McKean’s sense of familiarity with the grant process on past projects, Smith is confident of the process going smoothly.

“This would be a long-term plan for the City and community and would probably take about three or four years to complete from start to finish but we have some specific plans for the building including extra storage space, bathroom, laundry and kitchen facilities. It would benefit the community greatly,” Robertsdale Mayor Charles Murphy said.

In other council business:

-Resolution No. 009-11 was passed allowing the City to access a $2 million line of emergency credit from Citizen’s Bank in the event of a natural disaster. Murphy said this is an annual process and they have not nailed down a firm interest rate yet. The City will not pay any interest on the money unless it is accessed and used.

-A motion was passed to make some six by six signs to be erected on the two city billboards declaring the 16 and under girls softball team from Central Baldwin Softball Association the 2011 State Girls Softball Champions. Steve Williams, vice president of the CBSA, made a request to the council for the signs and they will remain up for a period of two years. The team won the championship in Wetumpka earlier this month and will be playing in the World Series this weekend in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.