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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Renovations to the Jemison city tennis courts are in the works after a vote on Sept. 16 by the City Council approving $32,710 to repair the courts and the surrounding fence.

In addition to being used by the community, the courts are a practice and competition space for the Jemison varsity tennis team for grades 7-12.

The vote is in partnership with the Chilton County Board of Education, and the item was expected to be on its Sept. 17 agenda. The school board is being asked to fund half of the $32,710 project.

Mayor Eddie Reed said the Council wanted to move forward with the project, while the weather was still warm enough for the contractor to work.

City administrator Shannon Welch said he met with two contractors on the project and discussed options.

Getting the courts on good playable condition will be the main focus, then the city will work on replacing the fence.

Tennis practice is set to begin in January.

Fines for littering in Jemison have been set with an amendment to an ordinance approved at the Sept. 16 meeting. Violations of ordinance which prohibits littering would now be fined $250-$500 or jail at the discretion of the municipal court judge.

Reed asked the Council to suspend the rules in order to have the first and second vote in the same meeting. The Council agreed, and the ordinance was unanimously passed on both votes.

The ordinance will go into full effect after 30 days. Reed said addressing litter issues was important to show the pride that Jemison takes in its community.

Steve Langston, maintenance department superintendent, recognized employees Jimmie Porter and Shelby Posey for completing their water and wastewater certifications.

Langston said when he first started with the department, none of these employees had these certifications.

“These guys set the example,” Langston said.

Langston also presented letters of appreciation to high school students Matt Brasher and Mason Hadden for their work in the department during the summer.

“One of the things I noticed was that they were very respectful — anything I asked them to do, they got done,” Langston said.

He said they put in hard work even though they were coming from football practice each day. Langston told the students he would gladly give them a letter of recommendation in the future if they should need it.

Reed said he hopes the city can expand its summer work opportunities for students next year.

The Council also approved a resolution appointing Cheryl English “to administer oaths and issue warrants of arrest for violations of law and ordinances of the city” for four years.

The council went into an executive session toward the end of the meeting to discuss litigation connected to the city’s sewer plant.