City leaders are mulling over the need to open a cooling station as temperatures at or above 100 degrees have been forecast for the foreseeable future. Public Works Director Bob Baldwin said Tuesday he had been in contact with Emergency Management Director Rodney Neff about opening a cooling station but that the city was taking a wait and see approach to the problem.

“Last time we opened an emergency cooling station—which was last year—no one showed up, not a single person,” said Baldwin. “We want to have a location open if it is truly needed and there is an emergency situation, but you also hope that it is going to be used by someone if we do open it.”

Baldwin stated weather conditions would continue to be monitored and that the cooling station would open if such extreme heat conditions persist. The station would also be opened if there should be an extended electric outage across parts of Cuba.

The city’s emergency cooling station location is Recklein Auditorium on Smith Street, which has ample bathrooms, air conditioning, water, and other needs. The city would provide snacks and drinks as needed.

“We will look at this on a day by day basis. Typically, we wait until there looks to be an extended period of 100-degree heat for several days in a row,” said Baldwin. The public works director will be cooperating with the emergency management director and Mayor Ray Mortimeyer in making the decision to open an emergency cooling location.

For now, senior citizens or others in need a cool place to relax can do so at the Cuba Senior Center, which is open weekdays and located next to city hall.