"Chilton County Peaches Are Tops!"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
 Clanton, Alabama
Vol. 87, No. 29
Clanton Mayor, Council Hear
About Being Good Neighbors
The Clanton City Council held their regular meeting on Monday night, July 14. The Mayor and Council were present and voted unanimously to pay all bills that were due.
In the first order of business, Mayor Driver asked the Council to approve a motion to let a bid for road work on the property the city purchased which is located next to the peach water tower. The motion was approved.
Richard Quincy completed his 90 days of working with the beautification department and was hired full time in a motion approved by Ann Baker and seconded by Ronnie Porter.
In a resolution brought forth, the Council approved to pay $6,000 to hire an Arborist to do a public tree inventory for the city. Total cost will be $12,000 with the second part being paid by a grant. The motion was approved by Ronnie Porter and seconded by Ann Baker.
The Council approved a motion for Ann Baker and Susan Rickles to attend a Urban and Community Forestry Meeting in Auburn on July 24. The motion was approved by Bobby Easterling and seconded by Elizabeth Hill.
Pennie Broussard was recognized by the Council and spoke saying “on behalf of the Chamber I want to thank you for allowing us to have our fourth annual Peach Jam downtown. We are already planning for next year. It was the largest crowd we have had and we hope next year will be even bigger.”
Council member Ann Baker stated “it was wonderful and thank you for all your hard work.”
Ken Willis, a resident of Deer Run Subdivision, addressed the Council with concerns from the entire neighborhood. “We have had several instances, this year in particular, where we have had livestock coming from the property just to the north of the subdivision, running loose. We have had them running in the streets. Last weekend they were out for three days without anyone coming to get them. We are concerned about the danger they pose to children, as well as adults, and to the property. There are other concerns regarding the animal waste disposal which is a safety hazard, as well as a health hazard, to the community. I have a petition signed by 43 residents and property owners asking the Council to find some resolution to these matters. We want to be good neighbors, but we expect them to be good neighbors along with us,” said Willis.
City Attorney John Hollis Jackson, Jr. was asked by Mayor Driver his opinion on the matter and he stated the property owner would have a legal responsibility for keeping the livestock up. Chief James Henderson said two citations have recently been issued concerning the matter. The court date for these citations was unavailable, but believed to be the first part of August.
Mayor Driver stated the city crews had worked this week in a ditch adjoining the property, removing manure and hauling it off.
The State Department of Agriculture had been contacted about two years ago about the problem. This is not a new problem as it has been ongoing since that time. The health department has also been contacted.
Several residents complained that the pasture is not kept up, fences are down, manure is being hauled to the ditches and the stalls are not being kept up. There is a problem with flies and dead carcasses left in the field.
Attorney Jackson stated, “the health department being involved is the proper thing to do, along with the swearing of the warrants. The cost of cleaning it up is one of the things that can be taxed against him, along with a fine and punishment." Mayor Driver asked that further investigation into city ordinances, along with what the city can actually do, be investigated by the police chief and the city attorney. Mayor Driver told the residents “we will see what we can do.”
©Copyright 2008
The Chilton County News,
PO Box 189,
Clanton, Alabama 35046,
Telephone 205 755-0110
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