With temperatures dropping below zero this winter, a city-wide task force is making plans for permanent warming centers.

Dave Miller, the Family Service Agency’s executive director, is the head of the task force that will join local organizations to create a long-term warming center plan in DeKalb. The Family Service Agency is located at 14 Health Services Drive.

“We’ve had one preliminary meeting, and we discussed what everyone was currently doing as far as providing warmth in cold weather,” Miller said.

At the meeting, there were about 20 representatives from local organizations, including the Police Department, Fire Department, DeKalb Public Library, Hope Haven and the Salvation Army.

This year, with the Police Department moving locations, the municipal building is no longer a 24/7 warming center.

“We have looked at alternatives for emergency shelters and warming center capacities,” said Mayor John Rey.

Rey said Barb City Manor, 680 Haish Blvd., has offered assistance along with other local organizations.

“There’s dialogue going on that a group of local service providers are forming alternative warming center options,” Rey said. “This task force is for a long-term solution to warming centers.”

On an interim basis, the city is open to staffing an emergency shelter when a situation arises.

While the task force is working toward permanent warming centers, DeKalb does have shelters like the DeKalb Public Library.

The DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., has been a warming center since its beginning.

“We are a warming center when we’re open. Anyone can come in,” said library communications manager Edith Craig. “The only thing we ask is that you use library services.”

Residents can use the library’s Wi-Fi and Internet services and read while warming up.

“[The] library is a public place, run on taxpayers’ dollars,” Craig said. “It only makes sense to be a place where people can warm themselves in the winter.”