By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

The Jemison City Council discussed road issues at a short meeting Monday.

Councilmembers mentioned several roads where tree limbs and undergrowth had been cut back recently, or roads that were on the list for such work in the near future: County Road 151, Pine Hill Road, County Road 42, Brenda Lane, Jemison Drive and Ellison Road.

“Some of these are so bad that it’s almost like a one-lane road coming through there,” Mayor Eddie Reed said.

The city will receive help from Chilton County employees on some of the projects.

In other business, the council:

•Bought an ad in The Clanton Advertiser’s annual high school football preview publication for $875.

•Reissued a $750 donation to the Jemison High School Blue Regiment Marching Band. The council approved in the spring of 2010 a $1,500 donation to help purchase instruments, but because of a mix-up the money wasn’t issued to the school.

Band representative Rex Bittle brought the issue back before the council in April, when the council decided to issue half of the money then and the other half at a later date.

Bittle asked the council Monday if the band would still receive the second half of the donation, and the council voted unanimously to issue the money.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Last year’s census data showed Jemison, with a 15-percent population increase, was Chilton County’s fastest growing municipality in the past 10 years.

The city is also growing in terms of land area.

The Jemison City Council has approved several significant annexations in the past five years, bringing people and businesses into the city and taking city services to the new residents.

The Oak Grove community, comprising about 100 acres and 15 homes, was annexed into the city in 2009.

Oak Grove resident Margaret Cobb led the effort for annexation, which concluded after almost all residents of the community signed a petition.

“We were having such a hard time with traffic, people just driving so fast, and in the summertime when it’s hot the dust was just awful,” Cobb said. “I think it’s been a good thing. Everything they told us they would do, they have done.”

Oak Grove residents have reaped the benefits of being part of Jemison, as the city has paved roads, posted speed limit and stop signs, installed fire hydrants and street lights, and extended garbage pick-up routes.

When Oak Grove was annexed, Jemison was handling its own garbage pick-up, but the city contracted the service to Waste Pro at the beginning of the year.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said the city’s growth and the increasing cost of maintenance to garbage trucks—Reed said the city had a bill one month of $9,000 for maintenance on just one of its two trucks—made the move necessary.

In 2006, the city annexed Sunset Cove subdivision and Burning Bush Baptist Church, located just off Interstate 65 Exit 219, on County Road 42.

About 100 acres of property that formerly housed Gene Martin’s used car lot was annexed into Jemison in 2008. The land is zoned as light industrial, though no active business is located there.

Another significant annexation was several plots of land, encompassing about 140 acres, off County Road 606, or Smith Road. Included in this annexation was the 191 Express service station and the land that now supports Hidden Meadow Vineyard, which opened in June.

Last year’s annexation of land off Highway 31 north of Jemison now includes an Exxon service station, bringing needed sales tax dollars into the city.

Still, annexation is costly because of the services the city provides.

“People seek the safety of the city for services they can’t ordinarily get,” Reed said. “It’s obvious that the more residents you have, the more you qualify for certain grants, but [annexation] still costs us a lot of money.”

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

The Jemison City Council on Monday established a speed limit of 15 mph for Honeycutt Road.

The short road leads into Holly Grove Cemetery and previously had no posted speed limit.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said at the regular meeting that residents along the road had requested a speed limit be posted.

Councilman Robert Morris also suggested that city workers post “children playing” signs along the road.

In other business, the council:

•Announced that work had begun on a project to improve Ivy Childress Road. “If we don’t do something with that road, it will soon wash away, and we would have to close it,” Reed said.

•Approved changing the date insurance is due from June to February.

•Heard Isabella science teacher Jay LeCroy about his desire to create a county-wide robotics team. LeCroy has had success with such a team at IHS competing at state and national competitions, and he said he thinks that with a larger pool of prospective participants, “the sky is the limit.”

The Jemison City Council on Monday approved beer and wine licenses for two businesses.

The 191 Express store and the city’s new Dollar General will be allowed to sell alcohol after no residents attended the public hearing to voice dissenting opinions and the council voted unanimously to approve the licenses.

City Clerk Sheila Hogge said the businesses had met all necessary requirements.

The council, at a regular meeting, also recognized Deputy Police Chief Marc McMinn for passing the state fire investigator exam to become certified in the area.

McMinn gives Jemison its third fire investigator and first in the police department.

“We can’t help but say this is a great achievement,” Mayor Eddie Reed said.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Jemison officials were so pleased with the first Mayfest that they’ve begun planning a second.

About 2,000 people and 36 vendors were present at the event Saturday at Jemison City Park, according to Shannon Welch, assistant to Mayor Eddie Reed and organizer of the event.

“Everything went great,” Welch said. “I think it was a great time for everybody.”

Reed also mentioned the success of the event at Monday’s regularly scheduled council meeting.

“It was a lot of work in it, but that’s what made it successful,” Reed said.

Welch said officials met Tuesday to discuss the event and plan for the future. May 4-5, 2012, has been set as the dates for the next Mayfest.

“We look forward to seeing everybody next year,” Welch said.

Possible additions to the event area beauty pageant and a fireworks show, Welch said and added that a logo could be in the works.

“All in all, we’re just hoping to do it bigger and better than this year,” he said.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Many musicians and vendors have been added to Jemison’s Mayfest next weekend, and the headliner is making the most of his visit.

About 10 acts have been confirmed for the event, which Jemison officials said is an effort to revive the city’s tradition of coming together for a yearly festival.

Mayfest will be held from 6-9 p.m. on May 13 and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. the next day at Jemison City Park.

An opening ceremony will include a flag raising, the Jemison High School Blue Regiment Marching Band performing the national anthem and Mayor Eddie Reed speaking to attendees.

Country music singer David Ball will perform Saturday evening at 5 but first will use his presence in the state to help raise money for tornado victims by donating a portion of the proceeds from sales of his new album, Sparkle City, at a meet-and-greet event from 12:30-2 p.m. on May 14 at Susan Schein Automotive in Pelham.

“Anything we can do to raise awareness,” Ball said. “I just hate to see something like that happen. You want them to know you’re concerned about them.”

Ball and The Pioneer Playboys will perform a short, unplugged show featuring the track “Back to Alabama” off Sparkle City.

“I was just thinking about all the times I had come through Alabama,” Ball said about the song. “I’m from Carolina, and Alabama is very similar to where I grew up.”

Admission to the meet-and-greet will be items to donate to disaster relief efforts.

At Mayfest, food and trade vendors will set up booths around the park’s walking trail, and children will enjoy inflatables and other attractions.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff for the kids,” said Shannon Welch, assistant to Reed and organizer for the event. “We’ll have a lot of vendors, too. It’s going to be a fun day.”

Admission will $3 for one night or $4 for a two-day pass. Official event T-shirts will be available.

Those interested in setting up a booth should call Karen McMinn at 688-4491 ext. 319; those interested in performing should call Welch at 688-4491 ext. 307.

The list of confirmed musical acts includes: Stomps Hill, Divided Seasons, Jessie Minor, Wayne Langston, Gary McKee, Steve Robertson, David Inestroza, Madison Wilson, Heaven’s Strings and Chris Porter.

“Come on out and have a good time,” Ball said. “Good music does a lot for you.”

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Finances dominated conversation at Monday’s meeting of the Jemison City Council.

The council declined to spend money on two agenda items—in one case, despite the objection of one council member—but did give $500 to Jemison High School’s archery team, which in its first year of existence is traveling to a state competition April 21 with the chance to advance to a national competition next month in Louisville, Ky.

Rejected, meanwhile, were items to donate $250 to the annual Peach Jam Jubilee in Clanton and a more expensive measure to purchase flowers and related supplies from Cindy’s Nursery as part of what had been an annual effort to spruce up the city in the spring.

According to discussion at the regularly scheduled meeting, the business ordered the goods under the assumption the city would offer reimbursement, as it had in previous years.

But Mayor Eddie Reed and other council members said confirmation was needed from the council before any order should have been placed—and that the consensus among council members present at a previous work session was that the project should be cut from the city’s budget because of financial woes.

“A budget is made as a guide; we can always go back and take things out or add things in,” Reed said. “No one on this council is against the flowers, but it’s about what is necessary for the city of Jemison.”

But Councilwoman Faye King disagreed, saying the business owner called the Municipal Complex before an order was placed and that a city official instructed city workers to take several large concrete planters to the business in anticipation of being filled with flowers then placed around town.

“It would be different if it hadn’t been city workers that took the pots over there,” King said. “We need to pay the lady her money; that’s my feelings.”

King wanted the council to either go through with the project, which would have cost $3,626.50 up front in addition to expenses necessary to the plants’ upkeep, or to reimburse the business for materials that could not be resold, totaling $2,595.76.

Council members also expressed concern over what they would do with the flowers if purchased but without the rest of the needed supplies to complete the project.

The council voted 5-1 to not pay the business, with King the lone dissenter.

The matter was first brought up at the council’s last meeting, on April 4. At Monday’s meeting, the minutes were corrected to show that Councilman Robert Morris moved to table the discussion until this week’s meeting.

In other business, the council:

•Announced that this week is the city’s annual Clean Up Week, when residents can leave beside the road for pick up items garbage crews wouldn’t normally handle.

•Announced that a state Department of Transportation public hearing on the proposed improvement to the intersection of Hwy. 31 and Hwy. 191 would be held from 5-7 p.m. on May 3 at the Municipal Complex.

•Decided the city would participate in National Day of Prayer on May 5.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Hoping to revive the city’s tradition of coming together for a yearly festival, Jemison officials have planned a Mayfest celebration that will include vendors and musical acts.

Country singer David Ball—best known for hit singles “Thinkin’ Problem” and “Riding with Private Malone”—will headline the city’s festival on May 13-14.

The event will be held at Jemison City Park, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, May 13, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. the next day.

“I remember growing up in Jemison, and every year we had Trade Day,” said Shannon Welch, assistant to Reed and organizer of the event. “The whole community was out on mainstreet. It was good to see the community come together.”

Kicking things off will be an opening ceremony that will include a flag raising ceremony, the Jemison High School Blue Regiment Marching Band performing the national anthem and Mayor Eddie Reed speaking to attendees.

Ball will perform Saturday evening at 5, and there will be other musical acts throughout both days.

Food and trade vendors will set up booths around the park’s walking trail.

Children will enjoy inflatables and other attractions.

Admission will be $3 for one night or $4 for a two-day pass. Official event T-shirts will be available.

Those interested setting up a booth should call Karen McMinn at 688-4869 ext. 319; those interested in performing should call Welch at 688-4869 ext. 307.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Tuesday discussed potential sources of revenue for the city.

Mayor Eddie Reed told the council to consider a proposed contract for rental of the old city hall, which sits adjacent to the Jemison Municipal Complex.

Reed said the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles would occupy half of old city hall for two years at a rate of $575 a month, if the council approves the measure at its next meeting.

“The good news is we’re meeting with the gentleman that’s going to rent the other half (on Wednesday),” Reed said. “That’s another income for the city, and we’re grateful for that.”

The council met Tuesday instead of Monday, its usual meeting day, because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Partly because of the success of renting the city’s auditorium, Councilwoman Faye King suggested the city clean out and rent the rescue building.

“It’s sitting there; we might as well make money off everything we can,” King said.

King also recommended the city purchase tablecloths for use in the auditorium. Renters could also rent the tablecloths; the council agreed it would be necessary to charge to compensate for having to clean the tablecloths.

In her final money-producing idea, King asked the council to vote to have a certified letter sent to two former firefighters, asking they repay money the city spent for them to attend a training course.

The council agreed the men had not met requirements put in place before the city agreed to spend the money.

The city paid $750 for each of the two men for them to attend the training.

In other business, the council:

•Allowed Fire and Rescue Department Chief John Dennis to spend up to $10,000 on renovations to the city’s fire station.
Dennis said he wants to turn some existing space into a dormitory and also upgrade the station’s bathroom facilities.

“Our plan is to eventually have people there 24 hours a day, and this is helping us move toward that,” Dennis said.

•Approved Nick Barnett to serve as a reserve police officer, based on the recommendation of Deputy Chief Marc McMinn.

By Stephen Dawkins

What could have been a controversial decision seems to have out worked out well for everyone.

Jemison residents voted almost exactly one year ago to allow the sell of alcoholic beverages in the city. Since then, new businesses have opened, old businesses have made more money and, perhaps to the dismay of critics of the measure, cases of driving under the influence of alcohol have decreased.

The city’s vote was more than 2-to-1 in favor of allowing alcohol sales, but Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said he and the city council were sympathetic to dissenters, knowing that such a step would be controversial.

“It was a difficult decision for the council because we’re right here in the Bible Belt,” Reed said. “Like everything else, we had people in Jemison that purchased alcohol, and they were taking their business somewhere else.”

Allowing residents to make purchases of alcoholic beverages in Jemison has increased the city’s sales tax revenue about $15,000 per month, Reed said. The city took in an average of about $55,000 monthly before going wet and now averages close to $70,000.

Though the vote was in January 2010, the first alcohol was sold in Jemison on March 16, at Jemison Exxon.

Store owner Chander Arora said at the time he spent about $1,000, and much time, obtaining a license to sell alcohol. Arora said on Wednesday the investment was a good one.

“It has added a lot of sales to the store,” Arora said of his business off Interstate 65 Exit 219. “We have a lot of walk in sales for beer.”

Arora said sales increased 30 percent those first few weeks because Jemison Exxon was the first store in town to sell alcohol. Even after more licenses were granted, though, store sales still remained 15-20 percent above the previous year.

B-Mart, off Highway 31 in the southern part of Jemison, can’t compare what its sales were like before alcohol because the store was opened because of the vote to go wet.

“That’s why we opened the store,” owner Heather Brantley said.

B-Mart offers products other than wine, beer and drink mix, but Brantley estimated alcohol sales account for about half of the store’s revenue.

Reed said law enforcement has played a significant role in the apparent success of alcohol sales and said DUI cases have decreased in the past year, presumably because residents no longer have to drive outside the city to purchase alcohol.

“It has been well policed,” Reed said. “It was a business decision. We’re hoping it will continue to attract new businesses.”