Shane Fulmer was appointed police chief by a unanimous vote of the Jemison City Council last night.

Fulmer was appointed interim police chief in December 2008 when former police chief Brian Stilwell resigned to accept the chief’s position in Clanton.

In accepting the position, Fulmer said, “I am going to do my job and assure you that the people in our police department will represent the people of Jemison in a professional manner.”

A committee formed by the council followed an interview process that resulted in Fulmer’s recommendation for the post.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance that will allow the city’s water department to discontinue service to customers who are 10 days late in paying their water bill.

Once the water service is discontinued to a customer, the customer will have to pay the bill plus any reconnect fees before the service can be restored.

Council members George Brasher, Donnie Lane, Sam Reed, Robert Morris and Mayor Eddie Reed will attend the League of Municipalities conference in Washington, D.C. Reed said the delegation has appointments with Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and Congressman Spencer Bachus during the conference.

Reed said they plan to discuss the possibility of widening I-65 to six lanes through the Jemison exit and a plan to improve the city’s wastewater treatment plant with the senators and Bachus.

Reed reported that the city’s plan to improve the sidewalks in the city had “finally” received approval by the Federal Highway Department.

The council approved a motion to allow reserve police officer Joshua Newman to use a city police car to attend the police academy in Jefferson County. It also approved a request to hire a court bailiff to serve when the city’s court is in session two times a month.

A proposal to adopt job descriptions for all city employees was tabled to the Feb. 16 meeting.

Reed explained to a group of residents that a proposed zoning change-which would allow the creation of a mobile home park adjacent to Jemison’s new Intermediate School — would not take place since the person proposing the change was not in attendance. He said the issue was no longer before the council and “therefore, the issue is dead.”

At the close of the meeting, the council went into a 15-minute executive session to discuss “preliminary negotiations for trade” and then adjourned.