Ground broken on Scott City FEMA shelter, theater space

If it's true that good things come to those who wait, the Scott City School District did just that, breaking ground Monday on a performing arts theater/Federal Emergency Management Agency safe room four years in the making.

The cost of the project is $2.1 million. The safe room grant, for which the district first applied in 2010, is 75 percent FEMA funded with a 25 percent district match. With the FEMA-reimbursable items, the new grant amount is $1.5 million, superintendent Diann Ulmer has said. The original award was $1.1 million.

The ceremony, held on the west side of the Scott City school buildings, was student-led, with 12-year-olds Hayley Spies and Noah Braun speaking and the Scott City Elementary Honor Choir singing. Students also released yellow and gold balloons -- the school colors -- as part of the festivities.

Zoellner Construction Co. of Perryville, Missouri, is the contractor, and Coreslab Structures of Marshall, Missouri, is designated to pour the concrete slabs for the building. Project architect Brett Dille of Dille Traxel Architecture in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, said Monday work on the 8,989-square-foot structure, meant to withstand an EF-5 tornado with winds of up to 250 mph, should start by the end of June.

Along with keeping students safe in severe weather, the building also will provide space for theater productions, choir and band concerts and art exhibits in the lobby. Ulmer said the FEMA safe room portion must be completed by April 2015 and the visual and performing arts portion by June 2015.

"I love the arts, and I'm just excited they're going to have a place to call home," Ulmer said.

Dille said the precast concrete panels are being prepared and holes will be dug to accommodate them.

Echoing school officials at the ceremony, Dille said Monday was a long time coming, with the FEMA grant application having been submitted four years ago. But the district didn't get its FEMA notice to proceed with bids until June 2013, by which time building costs had risen.

The project was put on hold while the district requested additional funding from FEMA for items such as walls, floors, generators, the foundation and some electrical work and plumbing.

"It's been quite a process in paperwork, but here we are breaking ground," Dille said. "It's exciting for the community."

About 350 students and 50 adults attended the event -- school officials, board members and former board members, the architect, general contractor and project engineer.

Spies and Braun, both set to begin seventh grade, said they were apprehensive about speaking at first, but it was easier once they got into it.

"It was fun, but at first I was a little nervous. I wanted to do it, but I didn't know if I was going to do a good job," Braun said, adding his mother had him practice Sunday

night.

Scott City Middle School principal Mike Umfleet said he thought having students lead the ceremony was a good experience.

"Anytime students get to lead things at a young age it's going to be beneficial in the future," Umfleet said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

3000 Main St., Scott City, MO