JHS principal visits Jemison council

Published 8:35 pm Monday, July 16, 2012

The Jemison City Council had several visitors at its meeting Monday, including new Jemison High School principal Allen Wilson.

Wilson told council members his goals and asked for the city’s help in achieving them.

One goal was to increase security on the JHS campus by having more police officers present on a regular basis.

“It’s not the material things,” Wilson said. “It just requires a little extra effort.”

Another goal was to remove debris from around the curbs and behind the field house and check the school’s watering system.

“Anything the city can do, we’re there 100 percent,” Mayor Eddie Reed told Wilson. “We want to be a part of it. Those things we can help you with, we’ll do just that.”

Police Chief Shane Fulmer presented a report of the police department’s second-quarter activity, noting that citations were up 74 percent and traffic accidents were down 21.4 percent.

“These guys are working really hard,” Fulmer said of his officers. “We don’t have a lot of men, but we do the best with what we’ve got. We hold them to very high standards.”

Fulmer commended Deputy Chief Mark McMinn and Sgt. Jeff Manasco for their work and dedication to the city, as well as three reserve officers who recently completed the Police Academy.

Fulmer also recognized Officer Riley Barnett for his contributions to Jemison. Barnett has resigned to fill a position with the city of Alabaster.

Also visiting the council was Jana Zuelzke of Child Protect, the county’s children’s advocacy center in downtown Clanton.

Zuelzke said the city had donated $1,500 to the non-profit organization in 2009, and she asked council members to consider doing so again to help Child Protect expand and continue its free services for children who have been abused.

“We’re working toward being an independent children’s advocacy center,” Zuelzke said. “It’s all about making [children’s] trauma less.”

In other business, the council:

•Approved a resolution for city clerk Sheila Hogge to oversee the municipal elections Aug. 28 since the current mayor is running.

•Tabled a decision about whether to hire two people part-time through Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging (M4A) to help in the office at city hall.

•Heard comments from a resident about tree limbs and litter needing to be picked up from city streets.