The Jemison City Council voted Monday night to enter into a three-year lease agreement for the purchase of five new police vehicles.

The agreement is with Creative Leasing at $59,000 annually starting in January 2011, Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

“The majority of our fleet are 2005 models that are at or nearing 100,000 miles,” Fulmer said. “We appreciate the mayor and the council’s support to give us equipment that is safe for us to be able to provide our services to citizens.”

In addition to safety concerns, when vehicles reach the 100,000-mile mark they begin to cost more in regular maintenance and repairs, Fulmer added.

In other business, the council approved poll workers for the upcoming wet/dry special election. The poll workers will be Neal Clements, Ann Thomas, Helen Atchison and Connie Haggard.

The election will be held Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 at the Jemison Fire Station located at 191 Main St. The poll will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

The special election was set by the council after accepting a petition bearing more than the required 220 signatures, or 30 percent, of registered voters participating in the last municipal election.

The question will appear on the ballot as follows: “Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within the city limits of Jemison, Alabama?” Voters will then mark either “Yes” or “No” on their ballot.

The council also:

Accepted a petition for Collum Street residents to install speed breakers

Approved speed breakers for Collum Street

Declared a JCB backhoe as salvage

Entered into an executive session for the following reasons: 1) to consider the discipline or dismissal of or to hear formal written complaints or charges brought against a public employee, 2) to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the entity is in competition with private individuals

Entered into a second executive session for the discussion of good name and character.