By Justin Averette

Jemison on Sunday will host a dedication ceremony for its new Municipal Complex, giving residents the chance to tour a facility officials said will allow them to better serve city residents.

The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the new 18,000-square-foot building, which is located adjacent to the old City Hall off Highway 31.

Attendees—who Mayor Eddie Reed said should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time—will see a short presentation in the auditorium and a ribbon cutting at the front of the building, and then have the option of taking a guided tour. While residents are looking around, the band Stomps Hill will play in the auditorium, and refreshments will be served.

“It’s a building for the people of Jemison,” Reed said. “We feel like we need to give it first to God and then to the citizens of Jemison.”

Several officials said the city had simply outgrown City Hall.

The city purchased the empty ACE Hardware building, and accompanying land, after that business closed.

Part of the City Council’s decision to go ahead with the project was based on the city having more than $5,000 left from a bond issue for a sewer project.

If the money had not been used, the city would have had to pay it back.

“We just couldn’t pass the opportunity up,” Reed said. “It’s a tremendous investment for our city.”

Reed also said that the cost of renovating the building has yet to be determined but said money has been saved because city workers have completed most of the work.

Reed said four sub-contractors have been employed—for electrical, drywall, brick and floor work—and the rest of the work has been done by city employees.

The city’s vault, which houses record archives, was an example Reed gave of how the city has saved money. Reed said an estimate of $12,500 was received for the construction of a vault, but city workers completed the project for about $2,300.

The vault is also an example of why Jemison needed the new complex. Reed said space was being rented for storage of records, which the city is required by law to keep.

City Hall was built in 1959, when Jemison had one clerk and one police officer. Now, the city has three full-time clerks and at least four police officers on duty at any given time during the day.

Because the old facility was inadequate, Jemison’s Municipal Court was being held at the city’s fire station, and the library had been moved to a rented space next to a doctor’s office.

The Municipal Complex features ample room for the city’s current staff and for future growth. There is a drive-by window at the front of the building for residents paying their water bills, and the library is located just inside the front door—as is the courtroom and council chambers, which seats more than 50 people.

City Hall would have been busting at the seams with a crowd of 20.

Court clerks in the past would have to pack up business materials twice a month and head off to the fire station. Now, the city’s prosecutor will be able to, without leaving the courtroom, queue up video acquired by the police.

Also, because of a spacious parking lot, residents visiting the complex to do business will no longer have to back out onto a busy highway as was the case at City Hall.

The city’s police department now has two interview rooms, a supply room and an evidence locker, which, like the rest of the building, is under video surveillance.

“I’ve always been a firm believer that if you don’t give your officers the environment, the tools and the knowledge, then they can’t do what they’re supposed to do,” Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

The department will also have a private entrance at the rear of the building.

“Before, it was just jammed up—there was just no professional way of doing things,” Reed said. “There were times when myself, the chief, we would have to give up our office so that the clerk or someone else could meet with someone in private. We were just too small.”

Perhaps the greatest asset to the city will be the complex’s auditorium, which features seating for as many as 400 people, a stage, a sound system and two pull down projection screens.

The auditorium can be rented for reunions, banquets and other gatherings. In fact, the auditorium is already close to being booked for the next three months.

Shannon Welch—who serves as the city’s purchasing agent and building inspector in addition to his role as assistant to the mayor—was the project manager.

“None of this could have happened without people like Shannon,” Reed said. “His imprint is on this building.”

Reed stressed that the city council was heavily involved in the project.

“I’ve always lived in Jemison and I’ve always been proud of Jemison, but I am really proud of Jemison now,” councilwoman Faye King said.

By Stephen Dawkins

Workers at Jemison City Hall are busy this week boxing up and moving to the new Jemison Municipal Complex.

By the looks of things on Tuesday, it’s going to be a process before the official dedication ceremony on May 2.

There was stuff everywhere and workers hauling out boxes right and left. You don’t occupy a building for many years without accumulating some stuff.

That’s the good part about a move, I guess: it’s a chance to decide what is worth keeping and what can be done away with. The other good part about this move is the new facility the city employees have waiting on them.

The Jemison Municipal Complex will be a first-rate facility, one that will provide everything the city needs now and well into the future. Though I haven’t invested nearly as much time and effort into the project, I am also anxious about the opening of the complex. As—what’s the word?—cozy as the current city hall is, I look forward to covering Jemison City Council meetings in a brand new council chambers.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed gave me a tour of the building last week, and, trust me, there will be plenty of leg space for councilmembers, residents and journalists alike in the city’s new digs.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison City Hall will close Thursday and Friday while employees make the move next door to the city’s new Municipal Complex.

City Hall will also close on April 29 for more moving, the Jemison City Council decided on Monday at a regular meeting.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff to move out,” Mayor Eddie Reed said. “We couldn’t do it with the public coming in, so we’re going to have to go ahead and close it.”

In other business, the council:

•Moved the site of the city’s municipal elections from the fire department to the new Municipal Complex.

•Voted to annex land on the western side of town, off Smith Road

•Heard from representatives from the Jemison High School Blue Regiment Band and from Jemison Middle School asking for donations. The JHS band director, George Martin, said the Blue Regiment needed money to pay off equipment, while JMS assistant principal David Seale said his school needed money for everyday supplies. Reed told both that the council would have to examine its budget for the remainder of the fiscal year before it could commit to any donations.

•Expressed a desire to remind residents that April is clean up month. Items not normally taken by trash collectors can be placed near roads this month, and workers will pick them up the last week of the month. Workers will not pick up paint, tires or vehicle batteries.

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

Clerks in Jemison City Hall are working long hours this week to restore six months of data lost during a Christmas Eve lightning strike.
Mayor Eddie Reed said lighting struck a transformer in front of City Hall on the night of Dec. 24, causing damage to the computer system. Also, the backup system did not work properly, resulting in the loss of court records and other information from June through December.
Assistant City Clerk Crystal Smith and Court Magistrate Tammy Miller are working to re-enter the information in the absence of City Clerk Mary Ellison, whose husband has been ill.
Reed said new data cannot be entered into the system until they are caught up.
“We owe them a great deal of gratitude and thanks,” he said of Smith and Miller. “They have been working to get the said information up to code.”
Reed believes the city’s insurance company will cover the damage. The city is working to establish an off-site backup system for protection during future incidents.
City customers may still take their water bills to City Hall, Reed added.
“We are fortunate we didn’t lose all the information,” he said during Monday night’s council meeting.
In other business, Brian Pate of Insight Engineers made a presentation to the city council. The city is currently seeking an engineering firm to assist in areas such as drainage and wastewater treatment. No decision was made Monday night.
Also, the council reminds citizens of the upcoming wet/dry vote set for Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Jemison Fire Station. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The fire station is located at 191 Main St in Jemison.
Depending on the results, the vote could potentially legalize the sale of alcoholic beverages in Jemison corporate limits.

By Jeannette Brasher

Most of my regular patrons know that the library will be moving in the near future.  

But they don’t know, and neither do I, just when that move will be. 

We will be located in the new Jemison Municipal building with more space and much better parking conditions.

It has been very nice here, but personally, I miss being part of the City Hall. 

In the new building, there will be elbow space for the water board, court clerk, city clerk, mayor, city council, library and police department.

Having everyone under the same umbrella is a smart move for the  city. Everyone will benefit.  Taking care of business with one stop will be much easier for the citizens of Jemison.  

We are no longer a small town.  Our traffic flow can get congested at times.

The city will have the new sidewalks completed soon.  That will be so nice for foot traffic, not to mention those who have motorized wheelchairs. 

I expect there will be signs of Hop-Scotch here and there.  

– Jeannette Brasher is librarian of Jemison Public Library.