Laws and land surrounding Pine Hill Cemetery in Jemison were the focus of a lengthy discussion during a council meeting on Monday.

Ownership of the cemetery will be determined in a case pending in Chilton County Circuit Court.

Attorney John Hollis Jackson, representing the city of Jemison, provided the status of the case for the council and citizens Monday night.

Jackson recommended that the city not take any action with the cemetery until the court process has ended.

The current title to Pine Hill Cemetery does not convey that the city has any ownership, though the city has maintained the cemetery for years, and a final court decision could take up to a year, Jackson said.

About 15 disgruntled citizens expressed concerns about the construction and use of new roads and driveways in parts of the cemetery.

Citizens also asked whether they could still purchase grave plots in Pine Hill at this time, but neither Jackson nor Mayor Eddie Reed could provide a definite answer.

“Our hands are just tied right now,” Reed said, adding that the city will continue to maintain the cemetery grounds and keep the area clean, regardless of the litigation.

In new business, the council approved a motion to increase sales tax from 2 cents to 5 cents on all tobacco products in the city of Jemison. Products include cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff and chewing tobacco.

The council also approved a resolution giving the mayor the authority to reach an agreement about how much it would cost to house inmates at the Chilton County Jail.

The Chilton County Commission on Sept. 12 approved a plan to charge $35 for the first day an inmate is housed at the jail and $30 for each additional day.