City of Clanton receives favorable audit report

Published 4:25 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2015

The city of Clanton received a favorable audit report during the Clanton City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Janice Hull of Hull & Russell PC in Clanton presented the audit report to the council and said she “went over the numbers closely and carefully” and found no problems.

Hull presented several highlights from the audit including the fact that Clanton has about $43 million in assets and $18 million in liabilities.

The council voted unanimously to accept the audit report.

In other news, the council:

•Approved an agreement renewal with Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging for operation of the Clanton Senior Center.

•Voted against purchasing advertising with a Birmingham TV station.

•Approved the hire of Willie Abercrombie as part-time summer help in the parks department.

•Heard from Chris Johnson about concerns business owners in downtown Clanton have about the work being done to the intersection of highways 31 and 22. The intersection was shut down as work started in April, but complications have forced work to stop while the intersection remains closed, putting a strain on businesses that relied on downtown traffic. “We feel that it is crippling the economy of the city,” Johnson said. Mayor Billy Joe Driver told Johnson and others in attendance that he has met with the contractor for the project, and revised plans are pending approval, at which time the work would resume.

•Heard from Economic Developer Fred Crawford about a billboard owned by Stella-Jones near the company’s plant in Lomax that could be donated to the city. Crawford said the company has no interest in using the billboard, and it could be used to promote the city and a local charity. Crawford was to give a proposal to city attorney John Hollis Jackson to review.

•Councilman Bobby Cook asked Police Chief Keith Maddox about the trucks not taking the proper detour related to the downtown intersection project, and instead going through the downtown area. Maddox said Clanton Police could make an effort to enforce the detour.

•Approved the minutes from the May 11 meeting, and paying the appropriate bills.