By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Future development was at the forefront of discussion during the Clanton City Council meeting on April 8.

The Council unanimously approved splitting the cost of developing a master plan for development near Interstate 65, Exit 212.

The Chilton County Commission and the Clanton City Council will each pay half of the expense, up to $100,000 each.

Just how much developing the plan will cost is unknown.

A consultant would be hired to work on the plan. According to Whitney Barlow, Chilton County Industrial Development board director, community meetings for input and an economic impact study will also be a part of the process.

The Industrial Development Board had submitted a resolution to the Council after voting to move forward with the development of a master plan.

The Council also unanimously approved rezoning requests for two pieces of land on County Road 633/ Automotive Lane, which was recently annexed into the city. The Ballington Place Subdivision was zoned RG — Garden Home Community. An additional 17 acres was rezoned R1A — residential. A public hearing for comments was held during the meeting. No one spoke against the rezoning.

The Council approved suspending the rules in order to make a final vote on the same day as the public meeting.

The subdivision plat was also approved.

During the meeting, the Council:

• Voted to pay the bills.
• Hired a sanitation employee.
• Approved installing a sprinkler system in a remaining portion of the old HarCo building.
• Heard a request from two employees at the Senior Center on Enterprise Road to be made full-time and receive an increase in pay or at least have and increase in pay. The employees are making minimum wage and are paid by the City of Clanton but do not have benefits. Each had been working at the center for six year. Council member Jeffrey Price asked each of the employees to submit a formal request in writing, including their duties, so each could be considered individually. The center serves hot meals to seniors as well as managing the hot meals for Clanton homebound seniors.