By Stephen Dawkins

Population growth brings both challenges and opportunities—something Jemison, as Chilton County’s fastest growing city, is becoming familiar with.

Though official numbers have not been released, Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said he expects the 2010 Census to show the city has grown from 2,248 in 2000 to more than 3,000 residents.

Along with more people comes the need for investment in infrastructure, such as sewer upgrades and road improvements.

“These services cost,” Reed said as part of a conversation about what the city faces in the New Year. “There have been no increases in taxation since 2004—we’ve tried to absorb costs.”

Reed said he’s proud Jemison has been able to maintain a minimal tax burden on its residents and that he and the City Council have avoided layoffs of city workers and cuts in services.

“The downturn in the economy has been a consideration for everybody, and Jemison is no exception,” Reed said. “I thank God we are blessed with a council that helped us through it.”

Reed said a company that helps Jemison with its finances, AlaTax, disclosed that while many municipalities experienced a sales tax revenue decrease of 25-30 percent in fiscal year 2008, Jemison’s decrease was 2 percent.

“We watched our pennies and stopped buying where we didn’t need to buy,” Reed said.

But more revenue will be needed as the city continues to grow. Reed said he and the council will continue to encourage small businesses to open in Jemison. Several have either recently opened or plan to soon.

“Like all cities, we survive off sales tax,” Reed said. “We hope we attract small retailers—that’s good for every city. It says a lot that businesses have begun to look toward Jemison.”

New businesses are imperative for keeping sales tax money in the city, Reed said, but locations like Jemison must have stores and restaurants that can compete with what is offered in nearby shopping malls.

“When we take our trade to Alabaster, when we take our trade to Prattville, we’re hurting this county,” Reed said. “If you want better services, we need to patronize these businesses here.”

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison’s city council on Monday approved a bid to enter into a contract for garbage pick-up with Longwood, Fla.-based Waste Pro.

The contract is dependent upon approval from Jemison’s attorney, but Waste Pro’s bid, the lowest of four entered for the service, was approved unanimously by the council members present, which did not include Sam Reed, who was absent because of medical reasons, Mayor Eddie Reed said.

Waste Pro’s service would begin at the beginning of the 2011 calendar year, and the council requested that residential trash be picked up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which Waste Pro representative Todd White said could be accommodated.

White said his company could remove Jemison’s trash in less than two full days, though there would likely be an initial transition period, with pick-up possibly taking all week, while routes are determined and all customers located.

Waste Pro entered a bid of $12 per standard residential customer pick-up. More would be charged for businesses and for customers who require more than one 95-gallon bin or who desire “backdoor pick-up.”

Jemison residents will see no change in their garbage bill.

The council agreed to a three-year contract.

Mayor Reed said the three city employees responsible for collecting garbage would remain employed and assigned to other duties.

In other business, the council:

•Approved a one-year, $1,075 contract with Active Air to service the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning system in the city’s Municipal Complex.

Reed said the contract covers all work and parts associated with the system.
•Canceled the council meeting scheduled for Dec. 20. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Jan. 3.

•Added Byron Lindsey Oliver to the police reserve, with the recommendation of Police Chief Shane Fulmer and dependent on Oliver completing the necessary training requirements.

•Recognized councilwoman Faye King for her work in organizing the city’s Christmas parade, which was held on Dec. 4.

Jemison City Clerk Sheila Hogge is helping the city move forward.

Hogge, who started July 19, has put in place initiatives to help Jemison’s city council make more informed decisions.

Before every council meeting, Hogge provides council members with a list of expenses due in the next 30 days, along with what funds the monies will come from.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed and other council members have raved during meetings about being able to see such a detailed expense report before voting to “pay the bills,” as is the customary next-to-last step of a council meeting—right before the vote to adjourn.

Hogge is a 1971 Jemison graduate and a 1975 graduate of Jacksonville State University, where she studied accounting.

The clerk worked at Brown Moulding, which is now Woodgrain Distribution, in Montevallo for 33 years before leaving for the Jemison post.

Hogge said she has had to adjust from a corporate position to working for a municipal entity.

“With corporate, you’re dealing with one set of books, but there are different accounts with municipal accounting,” Hogge said. “You’re also dealing with the public, and I’ve enjoyed that.

“When they need help with people bringing in their water bills, I help out there.”

Hogge said she also enjoys working in Jemison’s new Municipal Complex and the help and encouragement she received from Reed and other officials.

“We’re proud of what Mrs. Hogge has done,” Reed said. “She has brought some fresh ideas to the table that are working out very well.”

Hogge and her husband, Chuck, have two children, Leah Wadkins and Heath Hogge, and four grandchildren.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Monday passed ordinances to combat nuisances caused by large trucks traveling through town.

Responding to a concerned resident’s petition earlier in a regular council meeting at Jemison Municipal Complex, the council banned the use of “Jake brakes” inside city limits and reduced the speed limit to 25 miles per hour on the stretch of County Road 42 from Highway 191 to County Road 38, a portion of road that sees heavy truck traffic.

“We’re going to enforce it,” Mayor Eddie Reed said of the new restrictions.
The fine for using compression release engine brakes will be between $25 and $250.

Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said signs warning against use of the brakes and of the new speed limit would be posted clearly to give motorists plenty of notice.

With another traffic related ordinance, the council renamed three roads in the Oak Grove community.

County Road 138 is now Cobb Drive, County Road 560 is Garrett Lane and County Road 141 is Gentry Street.

The changes came at the request of an Oak Grove resident, who was asked to consult neighbors.

In other business, the council:

•Accepted a bid of $350 for a surplus GMC truck.

•Received an invitation from the Rev. George Brown, Scout Master of Pack and Troop 773, based in Jemison, to attend the Boy Scouts group’s annual honors and awards banquet on Saturday at the Municipal Complex auditorium.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison’s city council voted at its meeting Monday to raise the rate for collecting garbage by $1 per week per stop.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the increase was necessary because the state continues to increase how much it charges municipalities to dispose of garbage.

“We absorbed the first year of it, didn’t pass it on,” Reed said. “We don’t like to do that in these difficult times, but our responsibility is to=o see that the city of Jemison is not losing money. We have no choice.”

Reed said the city lost about $36,000 last year in garbage collection and disposal.

Cities without their own landfill pay the state to dispose of garbage, and the state charges a rate per ton of trash. The state’s rate has gone up partly because of increased fuel costs, Reed said.
“It has become an expensive operation,” he said.

The council, at a regular meeting, took other actions regarding revenue.

Bids for two pieces of equipment were approved. A Land Pride side cutter will be sold for $2,750, and a John Deere tractor will be sold for $1,000.

Only one bid was received for the tractor, and the bid for the cutter was the highest of three.

The council also changed the way city merchants will pay for licenses to sell alcohol.

Jemison was charging a percentage of annual revenue from alcohol sales, but, after Monday’s vote, businesses will pay a flat rate of $2,000 per year.

Reed said the change was meant to bring Jemison more in line with local municipalities.

“We’re trying to do what’s fair to our merchants,” he said.

The council also adjusted the water bill for Guadalupe Marin and W.C. Burnett; looked over a report from Fire and Rescue Chief John Dennis; passed a motion to install streetlights at the intersection of Church and Forest streets, on Darryl Street and at the entrance of Royal Oaks subdivision; and paid the bills.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council at its meeting Monday approved the dates and times for important holiday events.

The city’s annual Christmas tree lighting will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 30, and the Christmas parade will follow at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4.

The parade date is a week earlier than it has been on previous years.

The council also heard a report from Police Chief Shane Fulmer.

Fulmer requested that two department vehicles—a 1992 Ford E-350 and a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria—be declared surplus, and the council voted accordingly.

Fulmer also announced, in the absence of Fire Chief John Dennis, that the Jemison Fire Department has received word it has been given a grant from Firehouse Subs restaurant in the amount of just more than $20,000 for a new heart monitor.

“That is wonderful because that can really mean the difference in somebody’s life,” Councilwoman Faye King said.

Fulmer said the machine could arrive at any time.

Fulmer told the council he recently moved an officer from part-time to full-time, and asked the council waive a 90-day probation period before the officer can receive a 50-cent per hour raise.

The council voted unanimously after listening to Fulmer explain the officer has been employed by the department for a significant amount of time.

In other business, the council adjusted the water bill for Sandra Edwards.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council spent most of its meeting Monday talking about road and water projects.

The first item brought up for discussion was the removal of a tree that interfered with traffic on County Road 42.

“We’ve been wide open,” Mayor Eddie Reed said, and the rest of the meeting proved his point.

Councilman George Brasher said some bushes need to be cut back on County Road 71.
Councilwoman Faye King asked that, while they were in the area, workers could clean the debris out of a nearby ditch. Water is flooding the road because of the debris.

Councilman Robert Morris then asked if workers could push back dirt from a recent project on County Road 48. The dirt in question is in the same vicinity as the other projects.

The council—in a regular meeting that did not include Councilman Sam Reed, who was absent for personal reasons but will return—voted to replace the water line on a section of County Road 138. Land was recently purchased there, and the new owner plans to build and open a plant. But the landowner is worried the pipe, which is exposed and over part of the road, will be damaged.

So, the city will replace 1,500 feet of pipe and bury it.

Brasher said the city will have to tear up 60 feet of road on Ellison Road and repave it.
Mayor Reed said work on Sycamore Street is ongoing. A delay has been encountered, but the work should resume soon.

The council also voted to renew its contract with Revenue Discovery Systems for the collection of sales taxes. Reed said the new contract was identical to the one that is expiring.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council at its meeting Tuesday voted to allow the creation of a “public explorer” program.

The program, which would be organized by Fire Chief John Dennis, is intended to create a reserve-type force that would be made up of young men and women.

The council also approved an ordinance accepting the annexation of 20 acres of land off Smith Road. Both owners of the land, Paul Shannon and Kimberly Robinson, requested annexation into the city.

In addition to passing the annexation ordinance, the council amended several ordinances already on the books.

One such ordinance was amended so city officials could better deal with the problem of people not keeping vicious animals restrained. Another amendment will allow the city to change meter rates for new water customers.

Finally, an amendment was passed in regard to the police department’s drug tip fund. Revenue comes into the fund through court fees paid by drug offenders.

In other business, the council:
•Entered into a contract with Thorin and Associates for grant writing services.

•Recognized councilman Sam Reed for becoming a Certified Municipal Officer through a training course.

•Summarized reports from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, on the city’s water, and from the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corporation, on liability insurance paid by the city. Jemison received high marks in both reports, Mayor Eddie Reed said.

•Heard a presentation from Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center Executive Director Lynda Beebe. Beebe gave the council an overview of the non-profit organization and invited council members to a banquet Care Net will hold at Jemison’s Municipal Complex on Nov. 4.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Monday was updated on a couple of road improvement projects.

Mayor Eddie Reed told the council that a project to pave roads in the Oak Grove community, which was annexed into the city last year, is nearing completion.

“I will say that it’s 99.9 percent completed,” Reed said.

Work remains on County Road 141. Reed said the road is rough but that Chilton County Engineer Tony Wearren has assured Reed that county workers aren’t through with the road.

Also, speed limit signs need to be posted. The council decided at an earlier meeting to make the limit 20 miles per hour. Any county road without a posted speed limit has a default limit of 40 miles per hour.

“That’s way too fast,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

The council also discussed a project to improve Sycamore Street.

Councilman George Brasher said the road needs to be repaved because of instability created by a water line that was installed on top of a sewer line, but the work should wait on workers to connect residents on the street to the newer water line.

“That will save us a lot of money,” Brasher said, because if the road were paved before the work on the water line, the road would have to be paved again after the work was completed.

“Had we done it the way we decided to do before Councilman Brasher came up with this plan, we would have had a lot more complaints,” Reed said.

In other business, the council:

•Hired I.H. McNeill III, P.C., to serve as the city’s public accountant firm

•Discussed a report from Fire Chief John Dennis that included the number of calls the department made in the past month, among other information. The council unanimously praised the department’s work. “I’m just glad we’re moving forward,” Councilman Richard Morris said.

By Ben Flanagan

A Family Dollar discount store will begin construction in Jemison in January or February, according to a company representative who attended the Jemison City Council meeting Monday night.

The council passed three variances recommended by the city planning commission in relation to the arrival of the new business. The site will feature a 32-space parking lot near the 8,000-square-foot facility to be located on U.S. Highway 31. The council also approved the recommendation of the commission to allow the business to construct and erect two signs nearby.

The council passed an ordinance allowing the annexation of property off of County Road 135 into the corporate limits of Jemison.

The council also passed a resolution to allow Mayor Eddie Reed and the city clerk to conduct all city business and sign checks when necessary.

Bids were accepted on three separate city police cars. Those who placed the highest bids have until this Friday to pick up the vehicles. If they do not, then the cars go to the second highest bidders.

Mayor Reed and the rest of the council publicly congratulated the Jemison little league baseball team for their success in the recent Dizzy Dean tournament.

The council also passed a resolution to purchase a $700 advertisement in The Clanton Advertiser’s annual high school football preview magazine.