Commission Agrees On Land Donation For Duncanville Storm Shelter

TUSCALOOSA, AL —The Duncanville community is now one step closer to having its own storm shelter and multi-use facility after the Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the donation of land by the property owner, in addition to the donation of certain services and materials for the project.

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The property is being given to the county by Johnny Free — owner of GFC Construction — also agreed to provide fill and transport the materials necessary to construct a pad to building the storm shelter on. This is due to a drop off or dip in the ground at the site, which concerns artifacts and county officials, alike, before Free offered to handle the site work.

The site is located off of Highway 82 down Duncanville Middle School Road.

District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson publicly praised Free's generosity for the community, before pointing out that the Duncanville Volunteer Fire Department will manage the shelter.

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"They are very invested in the community," he said of the VFD. "They know the needs there and are right there all the time."

Patch reported earlier this week when Nelson expressed his intentions to make the shelter a year-round multi-use facility instead of just letting it sit empty when severe weather isn't imminent. This could include job fairs, picnics, private parties and other community events.

The overall construction of the storm shelter is expected to carry a price tag in the range of $750,000 to $1 million. However, Nelson said the Commission is currently in the process of trying to secure a grant in the amount of $550,000 to help cover costs.

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