The Maplesville Town Council decided Monday to grant owners of two properties on Mobile Street deemed building nuisances more time to clean up their properties in compliance with a town ordinance.

The owners have until the council’s meeting Feb. 11 to meet requirements of Ordinance 129 Section 1A, which prohibits buildings whose appearance detracts from the surrounding area or buildings with a safety hazard.

If the requirements are not met, the council will either hold a public hearing at which the owners would have the opportunity to speak, or the situation would be handled in municipal court and fees assessed to the owners’ property taxes for violating the ordinance.

The council agreed to notify the former residents of a vacant house considered a building nuisance for garbage piled around it that they have 30 days to clean up the property before the town takes further action.

In new business, the council discussed refurbishing Maplesville’s Christmas tree displayed in front of town hall or purchasing a new tree and more ornaments, but no decision was made Monday.

Town Clerk Sheila Haigler said the current tree, which is 21 feet tall, was refurbished in 1995.

Restoring the tree would cost about $2,100, Haigler said.

A new 21-foot tree would cost about $6,000, and a new 12-foot tree would cost about $2,180. Both prices include lights.

The council took note that all new council members and mayors are required by state law to complete their ethics training within 120 days of taking office.

They may either complete an online course and print their certificate or attend the 2013 Alabama League of Municipalities Convention in Montgomery in May and complete the course. The convention costs $300 per person to attend.

Maplesville Town Hall will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 21.

Editor’s note: This is a continuation of a story that published in Tuesday’s newspaper about the Maplesville Town Council meeting Feb. 14.