By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton City Council unanimously approved an agreement to give the Chilton County Airport Authority $50,000 each year for the next five years as matching funds the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant during its meeting on Sept. 25.

Council member Mary Mell Smith abstained from the vote because she is also a member of the Airport Authority.

Smith said if the grant fell through for some reason, then the city would get its money back.

Billy Singleton of the Airport Authority said funds will be used for land acquisition for future extension. The funds from the city are a part of the 5 percent local match requirement.

Chilton County Schools Nutrition Director Melody Bailey gave the council an update on the At-Risk Afterschool/ Summer Feeding program, which provides free meals to children. The city had helped the program receive a grant through the National League of Cities.

“Because of what we were already doing, we were given the opportunity to apply for a supplement to the grant from the National League of Cities,” Bailey said. “We were awarded an additional $10,000.”

Bailey said these additional funds will be used in the fall for the Afterschool Feeding program.

“We are also adding a free tutoring component to the Clanton schools as a part of this,” Bailey said. “It will be done through volunteers of students and teachers.”

The council approved authorizing Smith to sign the paperwork needed to accept the grant.

The grant covers the personnel needed, while the cost of the food is covered by reimbursement from the USDA.

“This summer we were able to clear a profit at both (Clanton Middle and Chilton County High) schools,” Bailey said. “Our total profits were $4,612.”

These funds combined with the additional grant funds will ensure the success of the fall program.

Bailey said this shows the program is sustainable.

A public hearing was held on closing a portion of Baker Avenue. There were no public comments in opposition.

Mayor Billy Joe Driver said the section was coming from the middle of the road. The section of road is 253 feet by 50 feet located 353 feet east of Alabama 145.

Driver expressed concern at how abandoning the portion of road could impact future utility work.

The City Council suspended the rules to allow the issue to come for immediate consideration. The City Council unanimously approved closing this portion of the road. The land will be added to the deeds of the adjoining land owners.

During the meeting, the council also approved:

— Paying its portion of upgrades to County Road 41. The cost of this project is being split with the Chilton County commission.

— Moving forward with finding a location for a Disc Golf Course.

— A compliance officer and hired Alvin Winters for the position. Creating the position was approved 5 to 1. Council members Awlahjaday Agee, Bobby Cook, Jeffery Price and Mary Mell Smith voted in favor. Council member Sammy Wilson voted against, saying he had concerns about how the process had been handled.

— Signed a letter to the FCC to allow Coosa County 911 to move forward with communication frequency upgrades. Coosa County 911 representatives signed the agreement the City Council had passed in a previous meeting. The agreement states that any interference the upgrades caused to the Clanton Fire Department frequency will by fixed by Coosa County.