Thorsby sets fees for renting chapel

Published 7:53 pm Monday, August 6, 2012

The Thorsby Town Council on Monday approved a rental fee schedule for historic Helen Jenkins Chapel.

Perhaps the town’s most recognizable landmark, the chapel has been closed to the public since January, when termite damage and other structural problems were discovered.

Repair work and other touch-ups have been completed, and the town will charge more to rent the facility.

After considering fees for similar facilities in and near Chilton County, the council decided to charge $350 per day for the general public, $300 per day for town residents and $50 per day for town employees, with a limit of renting the chapel once a year.

The refundable deposit required will be $75 for non-residents and $65 for residents.

The town had previously charged $100 rent for non-residents, $75 for residents and $25 for employees.

Council members put off until their next meeting a decision about a project to improve some of the sidewalks in the downtown area.

The project would include the removal of existing sidewalks and the installation of new sidewalks on the side of the northbound lane of Highway 31 just past the Thorsby Service Mart and up one block.

Mayor Dearl Hilyer said the project could be completed for $4,500.

Some council members expressed a desire to study the area and talk with business owners before making a decision, so the vote was put off until the next meeting, on Aug. 20.

In other business, the council:

•Approved Julie Adams and Police Chief Rodney Barnett to participate in the Chilton Leadership Class.

•Donated $1,000 to the Thorsby athletic booster club. The club will use the money to help pay for new weightlifting equipment, while the town will receive advertisements on several holes at a planned fundraising golf tournament.