Thorsby lots could be cleaned up

Published 9:56 pm Monday, September 17, 2012

At least one of the owners of property declared hazardous at a meeting of the Thorsby Town Council appears to intend to clean up the property.

Judy Simpson, owner of several lots in Thorsby’s old downtown area, addressed the council at Monday’s meeting after receiving a letter that her property was in violation of a town ordinance.

“I believe I can turn this around for the good of the town,” Simpson said.

The town began the process of condemning six other properties in addition to Simpson’s at a meeting on Aug. 20.

Council members told Simpson Monday that they appreciated her response and would work with her on cleaning up the lots.

In other business, the council:

•Joined a program that would allow unused sick time, at the time of a town employee’s retirement, to be counted toward that person’s official time served. The arrangement could help a person receive retirement benefits but would not cost the town, council members said.

•Tabled a request for $1,000 by Chilton County Transit. Council members wanted more time to study the situation before they voted.

•Opened bids for some timber on town property. The three bids ranged from $600 to $3,500 for timber near a lagoon in town. The council voted to not sell the timber.

•Heard from Police Chief Rodney Barnett about several items he would like to include in his budget for the next fiscal year. Among the topics discussed were: the installation of four-way stops at the intersection of Jones Street and Indiana Avenue, and at the intersection of Jones Street and Peterson Avenue; placement of “No Smoking” signs inside Richard Wood Park; painting a humvee that belongs to the department; and creating a part-time officer position for six months out of the year to help the department get caught up on making arrests for outstanding warrants.