By Scott Mims

The Thorsby Town Council agreed Monday night to place two additional “no truck traffic” signs on Alabama Avenue.

Because the avenue runs through a residential area and alongside Richard Wood Park and Sam Bentley Park, large trucks are prohibited on the roadway.

“The biggest thing is the safety of the kids and people,” Mayor Dearl Hilyer said. “A lot of people walk there, and they walk from one park to the next.”

Council member Tara Jewell reported seeing large trucks traveling through the area at relatively high speeds. Town leaders prefer trucks traveling north on County Road 37, which eventually becomes Alabama Avenue, to turn right onto County Road 29 and make their way back to U.S. Highway 31.

“Most of them do,” Hilyer said.

In other business, the council:

•declared a retired police car surplus at the request of Thorsby Police Chief Rodney Barnett

•voted to allow Officer Leah Wilkins to receive shooter reconstruction training at a course in Florence at a cost of $543, including hotel costs

•voted to allow Officer Gerald Purvis to receive training pertaining to gang-related activity

•did not vote to participate in the state’s sales tax holiday (measure failed due to lack of a motion)

•approved the municipal water pollution prevention report

•voted to purchase an ad in The Clanton Advertiser in support of the Thorsby High School Class of 2010, at the mayor’s discretion.

By Scott Mims

The town of Thorsby is one step closer to getting crossbars installed on all railroad crossings located within corporate limits.

The town council Monday night entered into an agreement with CSX and the Alabama Department of Transportation to maintain pavement markings and signs on all approaches to railroad crossings at Baggett Road, Jones Street, Franklin Street and the crossing near County Road 71.

Mayor Dearl Hilyer said the town would not be responsible for maintaining the crossbars themselves; only the reflective markings and signage.

“From talking with ALDOT, this is all we needed to do, and they’re supposed to get started very soon,” Hilyer said.

Crossbars are already installed at the Concordia Street crossing. Once the agreement is fulfilled, every crossing in Thorsby will have traffic caution signals, Hilyer said.

Over the years, several fatal accidents have occurred at crossings in and around Thorsby. Several years ago, the town installed speed bumps at some of the crossings to make up for the lack of crossbars and signals.

Monday night, the council voted to use some of the speed bumps on the entrance road to Sam Bentley Park.

Also, the railroad crossing near County Road 71 will be moved a few feet north in order to give traffic direct access from 71 across to the Chilton County Solid Waste Transfer Station entrance road.

In other business, the council:

•Announced that a community event has been planned for the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 6 at Helen Jenkins Chapel beginning at 9 a.m.

•Approved a proclamation declaring May 14 as School Hand Hygiene Day

•Agreed to continue its franchise agreement with Charter Communications

•Voted to continue its lease agreement with CRH, lowing the monthly rent from $4,000 to $3,500.

By Scott Mims

The town of Thorsby is partnering with Wallace Community College-Selma to host free GED classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. at Helen Jenkins Chapel.

Those who are interested may also study for their GED online at the Thorsby Public Library or from their home computer.

The classes, which are conducted by the WCCS Adult Education Program, began March 2. People may join the class anytime.

“Maplesville is already doing that, and we had heard a lot of positive things about the program,” Thorsby Mayor Dearl Hilyer said. “We just thought it would be something positive for our end of the county.”

A GED, or General Education Diploma, is equivalent to a high school-level education. To obtain a GED, one must pass a group of core subject tests.

Free classes are also offered at the Maplesville Depot on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-8 p.m., and in a building behind Martin Funeral Home in Clanton Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon and from 5-8 p.m.

Those who wish to take classes in Clanton must attend orientation, which is held the first Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. and again at 6 p.m.

“We’re grateful to the people in each of those communities,” said Lula Snowden, Adult Education Director for WCCS. “We’re so thankful for the city of Thorsby. Mayor Hilyer has helped us tremendously getting the class started there.”

For more information about GED classes in Thorsby and Maplesville, call (334) 876-9369. For more information about Clanton classes, call 280-8484.

By Scott Mims

Thorsby is on pace to meet its annual budget despite decreases in revenue, Mayor Dearl Hilyer reported Monday night.
The town’s departmental budgets total about $1.6 million for the current fiscal year. Sales tax revenues are about $3,000 lower per month than anticipated, but Hilyer expects revenues to pick up during the summer.
Unless things take a turn for the worse, Hilyer said the town may get to purchase a new dump truck.
“That opportunity may present itself if we keep doing what we’re doing,” he said.
The budget numbers are based on figures from the month of January.
In other business, the Thorsby Town Council approved the purchase of $1,200 in athletic equipment.
The council must vote on all park and recreation issues due to the lack of a board.
The council also approved paying $150 to participate in a promotional video highlighting Chilton County and its municipalities. The amount matches that contributed by Maplesville.
Phillip Wigley of Thorsby First Baptist Church asked the council to look into placing new stop signs at the intersection between the church and the former senior center.
The facility was recently acquired by the church.
“People tend to fly through that area. We’ve seen people doing donuts in the parking lot of the old school,” he said.
The council agreed to look into the issue.
Also, Hilyer noted that 34 homes are in violation of Thorsby’s junk ordinance. He said letters would be mailed to each property owner as a warning to get their property in compliance.

By Scott Mims

The Thorsby Town Council accepted a group insurance proposal for town employees Monday, Feb. 1 night.
The benefit package includes a $20,000 basic life insurance policy and $20,000 accidental death and dismemberment through 5 Star Life Insurance Company.
Thorsby Mayor Dearl Hilyer said the plan, which will cost the town about $120 per month, will cover all employees. The town of Thorsby employs approximately 40 people, including both part-time and full-time workers.
Hilyer said the town’s attorney, John Hollis Jackson, advised the council prior to its decision.
“He said that was a real good deal, and that it spoke well of us that we would look into a plan like that,” Hilyer said.
In other business, a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance will be held Tuesday night, Feb. 2 in the Town Annex at 6.
A representative of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham will be present to answer questions and address concerns.
The council also voted to allow Officer Gerald Mims to attend drug training in March and skid car training in the fall. The only cost of the drug training will be fuel, and the vehicle training will cost $35.
Nick Watley, a part-time firefighter with Thorsby who serves full-time at Selma’s fire department, will now also serve as an auxiliary police officer.

By Scott Mims

The bridge on West Medical Center Drive in Thorsby has been declassified to the point that it cannot support a school bus or heavy equipment.
Thorsby Mayor Dearl Hilyer said he met with County Engineer Tony Wearren about the possibility of securing grant money to replace the bridge.
The roadway in the area has also sustained water damage.
“We’re looking at maybe replacing the bridge with culverts,” Hilyer said during Monday night’s council meeting.
Because the detour around the bridge requires motorists to drive through Jemison, the road has been placed on a Jemison school bus route, Hilyer said.
“That bridge hasn’t held up at all. There are bridges older than that one that are in better shape,” council member Marvin Crumpton said.
In other business, Utilities Superintendent Terry Jackson reported several water main breaks due to recent below-freezing temperatures.
Because some of the breaks were caused partially by the weight of vehicles, Jackson said some lines need to be placed deeper underground.
Grants for water line projects may be available next year, Jackson added.
Capt. Clay Bentley of the Thorsby Fire Department said call volume is currently totaling between 30 and 40 runs a month.
The department is in need of a new vehicle because an old police car is costing more money than it’s worth, Bentley added.
“We are in desperate need of a vehicle,” he told the council.
A remodeling project in the upstairs of the station was recently completed. The project was paid for out of a fire department fund.
Also, recruit school is slated to begin March 21, pending that there will be enough people to participate.
In other business, the council voted to make a blue dump truck surplus.

By Scott Mims

Thorsby’s Town Council is getting quotes for a lighting upgrade at Richard Wood Park. The initial cost and installation of the lights would be funded by proceeds from past Thorsby Swedish Festivals.
The plan is to purchase more decorative poles with brighter lights so that less fixtures would be needed, Mayor Dearl Hilyer said. There are currently about 20 light fixtures in the park, which are crafted from PVC pipe.
The town also wants to make sure wiring is safe and up-to-code.
“We’re going for a more decorative type look,” Hilyer said.
Options include either purchasing new lights or renting them from Alabama Power Company.
Renting could cost from $15 to $30 per light per month, while doing the project alone could cost between $16,000 and $20,000, Hilyer estimated. If the town chooses to rent, Alabama Power would likely handle the installation.
Once the council obtains the desired number of quotes, it will report back to the Swedish Festival Committee, which coordinates how the Swedish Festival funds are used.
“Part of the drive of that festival is to put money back into the town, especially the park,” Hilyer said.
The new lighting is next in a series of projects to improve the appearance of Richard Wood Park, which sits in the town center along U.S. 31. The pavilion was restored recently.
Hilyer hopes the project can get off the ground within the next three months.

By Scott Mims

Bridge replacement, water upgrades and sewer improvements are among the projects Thorsby will be looking at in 2010.
Thorsby Mayor Dearl Hilyer hopes the town can secure grant monies toward replacing the bridge on West Medical Center Drive. Meanwhile, a potential site for a new elementary school has been chosen on County Road 37.
Growth in the town — which is expected to upgrade from a town to a city after the 2010 Census count — is also pushing the demand for a second water tank and greater sewer capacity.
“Thorsby is like all municipalities operating in a lean and mean atmosphere right now,” Hilyer said. “We are taking care of what we’ve got without incurring any more debt to keep us in a good position for growth as it moves this way.”
A long-term goal for Thorsby is maintaining its atmosphere of being a good place to live and raise a family. But as more households pop up, the town will need new businesses and light industry to support that growth. This will require a strategic plan for bringing in retail, Hilyer said.
The result of a wet/dry vote in June could affect how the community operates and is viewed by prospective residents and businesses.
“Our citizens will have a chance to vote their opinion, and I hope they gather all the facts so that they can make a wise decision before casting their vote,” Hilyer said.
Railroad safety has long been a major concern in Thorsby. In 2010, leaders will continue to pursue safety gates on all crossings.
Other goals are to secure grants for police car cameras, install new gateway signs near town limits, and upgrade lighting at Richard Wood Park.