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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton City Council unanimously approved the formation of a capital improvement cooperative district during a meeting on Feb. 24.

Billy Singleton, who was presenting the request on behalf of the Industrial Development Authority, said the district would be named the Alabama Agriculture and Exhibition Center Cooperative District.

“That cooperative district will have representatives from the city of Clanton, Chilton County and the Alabama Agricultural Authority of Chilton County,” Singleton said.

The Chilton County Commission has already approved participating.

In a separate motion, the Council approved Bobby Cook as their representative to the district. Cook will serve for four years.

Singleton explained that the Council could pick anyone to serve on the district board, but it could be a Council member if that is what they wanted.

“The Agricultural Authority, which was formed recently, will have essentially the responsibilities of the park (Alabama Farm Center) itself, and should there be other infrastructure, other requirements outside the geographically boundaries of that park that cooperative will be able to actually issue bonds and take on the workload of those projects,” Singleton said.

The cooperative district will be a permanent entity.

The Alabama Farm Center at Alfa Centennial Park project was begun by Alfa and the Alabama Farmers Federation to celebrate its 100th year. It will be located in the industrial park owned by the City of Clanton and the Chilton County Commission. The project is expected to have a number of other partners before it is completed.

Plans are in the works to break ground in May for this project, which will feature multipurpose buildings and agricultural arenas. The Alabama Farmers Federation plans to have a 100th year celebration in a completed building at the Alabama Farm Center in 2021.

Also during the meeting, the Council approved:

• Paying $309,517 as the final payment to Wiregrass Construction for road work at the Lomax Industrial Park.
• Awarding a road paving bid to Wiregrass Construction. The company submitted the lowest price when the bids were opened. A few of the roads to be repaved include Airport Road, Enterprise Road (in the city limits) and a portion of Pinedale Drive.
• Hiring employees to work part-time this summer.
• A rezoning request for a property at 401 Second Avenue S from residential (R-2) to business (B-2)
• An agreement to mow grass on the state road right-of-way. The city receives reimbursement for doing this twice a year.
• Purchasing 32 radios for the Clanton Police Department to be purchased off the state bid list.