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By JOYANNA LOVE/Senior Staff Writer

The Jemison City Council amended its truck routes ordinance during a meeting on Nov. 5.

The change removes the word “east” from the first section of the ordinance to make all of County Road 42 a part of the truck route.

This change was unanimously approved.

The Council suspended the rules in order to have the first and second readings of the ordinance change in the same meeting.

With this change, the truck route will include U.S. Highway 31, Alabama Highway 191 and County Road 42.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the ordinance putting truck routes in place was designed to keep heavy trucks off city streets that were not designed to support the weight. Some vehicles, like school buses and garbage trucks, are exempt from following the tuck route.

Additional signage designating the truck route is in the works.

A donation of $500 to the Jemison High School Culinary Department was also unanimously approved to thank the students for serving food during the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce meeting with Gov. Kay Ivey. The meeting had been held in the municipal auditorium.

“It’s well deserved,” Reed said.

He explained that having guests served individually, rather than buffet style, had been the city’s idea because the governor was short on time.

“We got a lot of thank-yous for the way we carried that out,” Reed said.

Reed said he was proud of the students for their professionalism, doing a good job serving and staying to help clean up.

Reed had initially suggested $300, but Councilman Rex Bittle made a motion for $500, which was approved by the Council.

The Council also approved closing the Clerk’s Office on Nov. 14 for mandatory training.

A work session will be held on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.

Also during the meeting, the Council:

• Approved a contract for the city judge. Reed explained a contract needs to be approved every two years.
• Approved making November National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. A sample proclamation had been presented by Affinity hospice in Homewood which serves Jemison. Reed and Councilman George Brasher commented on how this is an issue that impacted everyone. They thanked the company for serving the community.
• Approved paying bills.
• Accepted a donation from of Bibles for each of the Jemison Police officers.