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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Jemison City Council unanimously approved an annexation request for property many  thought to already be inside the city limits during a meeting on Sept. 29.

Leo and Christine Horton made the request for 787 Thompson Chapel Road to be annexed into the city limits.

Councilman Donnie Lane asked why it had not been a part of the city previously. Mayor Eddie Reed said he did not know, but nearby houses were a part of the city.

The property will be added to the city of Jemison zoned residential medium density.

The Council also declared the District 3 Council seat vacant to begin the process of filling the position formerly held by Robert Morris. Morris died on Sept. 22.

The Council will appoint a successor at a later meeting.

“We have to declare the seat vacant, but we cannot fill it today,” Reed said.

He explained that state law required the vacancy to be announced at the first meeting held after a councilman dies and the council needs to appoint someone at the next regularly scheduled meeting after that.

A vote on the budget for the 2021 fiscal year was tabled in order for a work session to be held to discuss more details before the vote. This work session will be held on Oct. 5.

Reed also gave the Council an update that funding options for paving County Road 71 were being researched.

“County Road 71 will get paved,” Reed said. “The Council is just waiting on some numbers.”

Reed said he has discussed the project with the county engineer and city administrator Shannon Welch.

The Council also approved:

• Providing Tier I retirement benefits to those currently on Tier II and “the required retirement system contribution rate of 7.5% for regular employees and 8.5% for fireman/ public safety employees with tier II membership.”
• An agreement with Living Waters Services, LLC to provide wastewater plant services for $6,900 a month.