Clanton’s City Council approved a request from CRH to abate certain taxes for 10 years for the Clanton manufacturing company.

Judy Benson, human resources manager, told the council the company plans to spend $2,300,000 for new equipment to allow the company to fulfill two new manufacturing contracts. She explained the company was asking the city to abate $7,300 in use taxes per year over a 10-year period.

She also explained the new contracts could produce up to 40 new jobs and approximately $1.2 million in additional payroll at the plant.

The council voted 4-1 in favor of the motion. Councilmember Jeff Price voted against the measure. He said city sales taxes were down $43,000 and he was concerned the city employees were not getting pay increases this year.

In other business Dan Nolen and Leh Bass addressed the council about grant work being done by the Clanton Tree Commission.

Bass said more than 3,000 trees on the city’s right-of-way and other city property had been measured in the program. He said the data on every tree will be placed on a computer to be available when needed. Nolen asked the council to consider spending $4,000 to $5,000 annually to grow new trees to replace trees that have to be removed.

He said the horticulture class at LeCroy Career/Technical Center, the Alabama Forestry Department and Clanton Master Gardeners are on board with the idea. The council took no action of the proposal.

Other Tree Commission members present were Susan Rickles and Herman Washington.

The council also approved a request for a beer and wine license for Clearview Grocery, approved a motion to ask bids on the repair of the filtration system at the swimming pool at City Park and approved a motion to contract with Louise Campbell to administer the $500,000 West End Sewer Grant project. Her fee will be $20,000.