Clanton to go after grants

Published 10:00 pm Monday, March 26, 2012

The Clanton City Council will go after multiple grants this spring to improve the city’s infrastructure and roads.

The council voted Monday to seek an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program grant to help pave Lake Mitchell Road between Interstate 65 and the city limits.

The new program is designed for road and bridge renovations that can be started quickly — by the end of the year, said Louise Campbell, who administers grants for the city.

One estimate put the project at $700,000, of which the grant would pay $560,000. Campbell said she thought that estimate was high.

During Monday’s meeting, the council approved seeking a grant of up to $560,000. If awarded that amount, Clanton’s 20-percent match would be $140,000.

Campbell also said that since the community block grant used to address sewer problems in West End has been closed, the city may now apply for more funds.

She said applying for a new grant to finish sewer work in the community would be “the most competitive project.” The city is also considering applying for a grant to build a senior center.

“It’s (sewer lines) critical to health and environment,” Campbell said on why a grant for sewer work might be favored.

In other business, Janice Hull of Hull & Russell, P.C. presented the annual audit with no findings.

Hull said the city brought in $10.8 million last year, which was slightly more than the previous year. Profit was down from $1.33 million the year before to $174,000, but Hull said that was done to numerous capital projects.

“I think everything went real well,” Hull told the council.

Councilwoman Mary Mell Smith also gave an update on the April 21 community clean-up day. She said several groups have already volunteered to work different shifts that day. April 28 has also been set as a rain day in case of bad weather.