Deer are becoming a problem in the City of Jemison, and the city council wants something done about them.

Councilmember Danny Robinson told the council the deer are eating the gardens in neighborhoods and asked Police Chief Brian Stillwell to help solve the problem.

Chief Stillwell told the council he would seek help from the Alabama Game and Fish Division of the Department of Conservation.

Robinson said the deer were not large but indicated they were causing a large problem in the city.

In other business the council held an open hearing for a $3,000-50 percent matching grant the city was seeking to use to purchase playground equipment for the city’s park.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the city could use “in-kind” work at the park as part of its matching funds.

“We have very limited playground equipment and we have a great demand for equipment for smaller children,” Reed said. No action was expected or taken on the grant proposal since it will be brought up at another public hearing.

The council agreed to allow Georgia Pacific to use the city’s park facilities for a company picnic Nov. 8. It passed an ordinance that will allow New Canaan Christian Church to erect a sign at the church on Main Street.

It agreed to clean out a pipe in front of the home Kristi Kendrick to reduce the chance of the pipe overflowing a flooding her property. Councilman Raybon Ellison said the city needed to address what is needed and fix the problem.

Paula Mattingly, director of the Chilton County Humane Society introduced herself to the council and expressed her desire to improve the operation of the Society.

Councilman Sam Reed asked the council’s help in promoting the opening and closing times at the city park. Reed said the park opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m.

“Any activities at the park after 9 p.m. have to be first cleared by the city,” he said.

Chief Stillwell said surveillance cameras have been installed at the park as requested by the council. “We were able to use Homeland Security funds,” Stillwell said, “and didn’t have to use city funds for the project.”

The council went into executive session to discuss the good name and character of a city employee for approximately 20 minutes and adjourned the meeting without taking any action concerning the executive session in the final minutes of the regular session.