The design of the city’s first public storm shelter is about to be underway at SPARK Academy at Cowart Elementary School.

Athens City Council members on Monday authorized the mayor to accept a proposal with McKee and Associates Architecture and Interior Design. The Montgomery-based company will earn $30,000 for the work.

During school hours, the facility will be a safe room and storm shelter for students during school hours and a storm shelter for the public during non-school hours. It will be built south of the school and will hold 425 people.

The city, city schools and emergency officials worked together to bring about the safe room/storm shelter at Cowart, which also houses SPARK. Officials sought the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the April 2014 tornado.

Of the $547,281 total cost, the federal government will pay $410,461 and the city and schools will pay a $136,820 local match. The city will pay 35 percent of the match and the schools 65 percent. The schools will donate some land at Cowart as part of its match.

The Alabama Building Commission must review McKee’s plan when it is complete.