Clanton City Council hears about flooding

Published 6:33 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2016

There is no easy solution to the problem of flooding in areas around Clanton.

Clanton’s City Council heard from a resident at Monday’s meeting about flooding at her home, but it is unclear what, if any, course of action the city might take.

The resident addressed the Council about flooding in a subdivision off Park Drive North, behind Winn-Dixie.

The resident asked city officials what could be done, but they were unsure because of the problems of access of private property and creating a problem elsewhere.

“Even if we put in a ditch, I can’t guarantee it would solve the problem,” Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said.

Driver said he would re-visit the issue and try to determine what could be done.

In other business, the council:

•Tabled a decision about hiring a staff member at the Clanton Senior Center, as was requested by the center’s director. The employee is sponsored by Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging as part of a program that is designed to find such employees regular work. The employee could be hired by the city or someone else. The employee works 20 hours a week at minimum wage. City officials said they wanted more time to look into the situation.

•Approved the re-zoning of property off County Road 77 from municipal reserve to agriculture. The city’s planning commission had already approved the measure.

•Approved for a joint committee between the city and county seek bids for the clearing of trees from the site of a planned industrial park.

•Approved a change order on the installation of storm shelters. The city will save $2,000 because of earthwork performed by city workers.

•Heard from Jackie Baker of West End Neighborhood Watch that a May Day event was being held in the city beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

•Heard from Jessie Binion of West End Neighborhood Watch that five local ministers came to help in the community garden planted by the group.

•Approved the transfer of the restaurant retail liquor license for Friends Steakhouse from Christine Thomas to Hoyt Keith.