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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Jemison City Council passed a number of amendments to the 2017-2018 budget during a meeting on May 21.

In the General Fund, amendments included $40,000 toward Retail Strategies membership, $28,764 to repair lightning strike damage and $50,000 to purchase property.

In the park budget, $27,150 was earmarked for repairing tornado damage and $3,330 for electricity. Under Special Revenue (Gas), $4,000 was amended for street materials. For sewer expenses, amendments totaled $62,000, $31,500 of this was a carryover from the previous year, while the additional $30,500 was for the lift station. In the water division budget, amendments included $2,100 for postage and $3,500 for banking expenses related to Virtual Merchants.

The City Council also unanimously approved making a donation to help those who could not pay their water bills. Churches and Masonic lodges will now be on the residential rate, rather than the commercial rate. This motion was unanimously approved during the meeting.

Another donation of $2,000 was made to Jemison High School’s Technology Student Association.

JHS Principal Diane Calloway thanked the Council for their support of the school.

The Jemison City Council also approved:

— Adding the City Administrator to the pay scale.

— The Chilton County Board of Education’s School Security plan