By SARAH GRAHAM/For the Advertiser

The city of Clanton discussed ways the community has been bettered through Community Development Block Grant grants and possible future projects during the June 11 meeting of the Clanton City Council.

Louise Campbell, Clanton’s CDBG grant writer, talked about the two finished projects including the West End sewer rehab project and the water and sewer improvements for the hospital.

Both have been going on for a while, but are finally completed.

Three grant categories are available depending on low to moderate income.

The first is the Competitive which would be for larger territories providing water and sewage.

Second is the Community Enhancement, which would be for smaller senior or community type centers that would strictly go to benefit quality of life.

Third is the Economic Development, which would benefit lower to moderate income people.

There is the opportunity provided for private investment for the Economic Development fund.  

The grant application deadline for these is July 31.

The max amount that can be applied for a Competitive grant is $450,000.

A local match is required of 10 percent.

“In order to compete, we need to boost that up to about 20 percent,” Campbell said.

A new competitive project is already being discussed.

“The project either must benefit principally lower moderate income people or must meet and urgent need,” Campbell said.

Mayor Billy Joe Driver said he and Campbell would ride around town and see what needs would qualify.

An urgent need in this case would be a tornado coming through or a disease outbreak.

The council also approved the Lo-boy trailer that was under the National Bid system requirements.

The price was initially estimated to be $57,000, but was bought at $49,761.12.

Meals on Wheels by the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging was also approved again.

Patrick Rogers was approved for hire at the fire department.

Also, the drainage structure on Jackson Avenue through West End was approved with the core of the drainage being $34,000.