By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Monday granted its first two alcohol licenses.
City residents voted on Jan. 12 to allow alcohol sales, and the council passed an ordinance on Jan. 18.
Jemison Exxon, near Interstate 65 Exit 219, and Stop and Shop, on Highway 31 north of Jemison High School, are the first businesses licensed to sell alcohol in city limits.
“Ya’ll just made history,” Mayor Eddie Reed told the council after its unanimous vote.
Before being granted licenses, businesses are scrutinized by Police Chief Shane Fulmer, who runs background checks on the business owners, and Fire Chief John Dennis and Building Inspector Shannon Welch, who both ensure the business is compliant with local and state fire and building codes.
All three officials were present at the meeting and approved granting licenses to the businesses.
Jemison’s ordinance also allows for public debate before licenses are granted, but no one was present at the regularly scheduled meeting at Jemison City Hall to voice opposition.
“This is a historic moment for the city of Jemison,” Reed said. “It’s gone smoothly because we have the people in place.”
In other business, the council:
•Heard a presentation from Diane Calloway about regulations that could apply to the auditorium in the new city hall that is still under construction.
Calloway previously had volunteered to gather information about rental rates and other usage regulations adopted for Helen Jenkins Chapel in Thorsby and Calera Community Center.
The council thanked Calloway for her help and indicated action could be taken on the matter in a future meeting.
•Heard from Dennis about the Alabama Smoke Alarm Initiative, which Jemison will participate in. The state initiative is a way of ensuring all residents have working smoke alarms.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Monday decided on a different supplier for new playground equipment in the city’s park.
The council had awarded a contract to Giffen Recreation of Pelham, but the company is not a member of the U.S. Communities government purchasing alliance, councilmember Sam Reed said.
Had it gone with a company not on the U.S. Communities list, Jemison would not have been able to receive a Land and Water Grant, so the city instead will purchase equipment from GameTime.
Because of its inclusion on the U.S. Communities list, Reed said Jemison could award a contract to GameTime without bidding out the project—which the council did at a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall.
Reed said the change should not cause any delays on the project and that the cost of the equipment will be comparable to what Giffen was going to charge.
The council also voted to annex land owned by Roger W. Hill into the city. Hill’s land is adjacent to Highway 31 north of Jemison.
The council was unsure exactly how much land would be annexed but seemed to agree that it was about 100 acres.
The council also renewed a contract with RDS, a company that analyzes sales tax information.
Yolanda Watkins, RDS regional account manager, gave a presentation to the council and said her company in three years had discovered 192 businesses operating without a license.
Watkins said the license purchases accounted for more than $20,000, of which the city received half.
The council also voted to adjust the water bills of six residents.
The council went into executive session to discuss possible litigation before paying the bills and adjourning.

By Ben Flanagan

Jemison City Council took time Monday night to thank the city’s police and fire departments for the hard work they do every day.
“We just can’t thank you enough,” Mayor Eddie Reed said.
The council passed a resolution to repay Regions Bank a loan of $495,000 that paid for the construction of the city’s new city hall building.
While thanking Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer, Reed said they were fortunate that nothing had been stolen during the construction.
He said earlier this week there was a theft outside of the new city hall.
A man stole a cement mixer but was apprehended by police officers approximately five minutes after he committed the crime, Reed said.
Fulmer expressed his gratitude toward the council and other city officials who attended the  meeting.
“We’re glad to be a part of it,” he said. “I feel blessed to be here.”
The council also passed a resolution to purchase playground equipment to be built and placed in a local park.
The council passed a resolution to purchase flood insurance for areas in the city subject to flooding or mudslides.
Reed said the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommended the insurance, and the resolution was passed to become eligible for it.
The council also passed an amendment to an ordinance regarding setting fees and rates for alcohol sales in Jemison.
Another amendment was passed on an ordinance to adjust the present rate of business license fees to include alcohol sales.
Chief Fulmer said the Alabama Beverage Company says those who wish to apply for an alcohol sales license can do so now.
The final resolution the council passed was to give Chilton Leadership $500 for a two-part project involving revising the 10-year-old county video advertising the municipalities and attractions in the area.
Rex Bittle appeared on behalf of the organization and said the current video is only available on VHS but will soon be adjusted with new video and photos and available to store and distribute on DVD, flash drives, SD cards and the organization’s Web site.
The council also approved producing a new advertisement for Minooka Park.

By Scott Mims

The Jemison City Council voted last Monday night to enter into a three-year lease agreement for the purchase of five new police vehicles.
The agreement is with Creative Leasing at $59,000 annually starting in January 2011, Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.
“The majority of our fleet are 2005 models that are at or nearing 100,000 miles,” Fulmer said. “We appreciate the mayor and the council’s support to give us equipment that is safe for us to be able to provide our services to citizens.”
In addition to safety concerns, when vehicles reach the 100,000-mile mark they begin to cost more in regular maintenance and repairs, Fulmer added.
In other business, the council approved poll workers for the upcoming wet/dry special election. The poll workers will be Neal Clements, Ann Thomas, Helen Atchison and Connie Haggard.
The election will be held Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 at the Jemison Fire Station located at 191 Main St. The poll will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The special election was set by the council after accepting a petition bearing more than the required 220 signatures, or 30 percent, of registered voters participating in the last municipal election.
The question will appear on the ballot as follows: “Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within the city limits of Jemison, Alabama?” Voters will then mark either “Yes” or “No” on their ballot.

The council also:
•Accepted a petition for Collum Street residents to install speed breakers
•Approved speed breakers for Collum Street
•Declared a JCB backhoe as salvage
•Entered into an executive session for the following reasons: 1) to consider the discipline or dismissal of or to hear formal written complaints or charges brought against a public employee, 2) to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the entity is in competition with private individuals
•Entered into a second executive session for the discussion of good name and character.

By Scott Mims

The Jemison City Council voted to hire a part-time paid fire and rescue chief Monday night.
John Dennis was hired to fill the position, whose duties will include overseeing the department’s rules and regulations and the training of volunteers.
Council member Faye King explained that Bobby Tucker and Donna Manasco will remain in their leadership positions over fire and rescue, respectively.
“He’s not taking anybody’s place,” King said of Dennis.
The decision immediately followed an executive session held for the discussion of good name and character.
“We want that fire and rescue department to become what it’s supposed to be,” Mayor Eddie Reed said, thanking all the volunteers for their dedicated service. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us.”
Reed declined to comment on Dennis’ rate of pay.
In other business, the council approved a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget totaling slightly more than $3,045,000.
The budget projects a revenue increase of approximately $50,000 from the previous fiscal year.
The city also entered into an agreement with the state to regularly maintain pavement, markings and signs near the railroad crossing on Union Grove Road. The crossing is scheduled to receive a signal upgrade soon.
“This has been long and coming,” Reed said. “We’re sure glad to hear it.”

The council also:
• Approved an ordinance outlining personnel rules and regulations for the city
• Approved the annexation of seven acres near the intersection of county roads 42 and 51
• Set the city’s Christmas parade for Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m., preceded by lineup at 1 p.m.

By Scott Mims

The Jemison City Council amended a city ordinance Monday night, raising the storage fees for seized drug vehicles.

The fees will increase from $15 to $25 for the first day and from $7 to $15 per day for each additional day of storage.Police Chief Shane Fulmer said the increase would help offset court costs and district attorney’s fees that must be paid out of the department’s drug fund.

“This will be an increase in storage fees for our police department and all of our departments,” added Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed. “It (storing seized vehicles) is an expense to us.”

The fees will be collected by the clerk’s office and deposited in the Jemison Police Department’s drug fund rather than the city’s general fund, the amendment also stated.

In other business, the council reviewed a petition from local property owners Frank and Edna Rudeseal requesting that their property at the corner of County Roads 42 and 51 be zoned commercial.

At 6:25 p.m., the council went into executive session for the discussion of security plans and procedures. The council voted to pay the bills and adjourn following the executive session.