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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Maplesville Town Council has established Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. as the deadline for applying for the position of police chief.

The deadline was approved unanimously at the Nov. 9 meeting.

Council members will review applications on Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. to select the candidates they want to interview. Interviews are set to be held on Dec. 7 starting at 6 p.m.

Mayor W.C. Hayes said he knew the town had received five applications already. Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said she had received two additional calls for information.

Officer Josh Hubbard is serving as interim police chief. The Council approved a $1.25 per hour raise for Hubbard retroactive to when he first began serving in the role after the last Council meeting.

Chris Nelson with Block the Brierfield Prison presented information and his concerns on the large Alabama Department of Corrections facility that the state plans to have constructed and lease in Brierfield. Nelson said the state has not collected public comments and “been secretive” about the process.

He said the prison would be approximately 15 miles north of Maplesville. He urged the Council to request that “traffic studies, environmental impact statements, public safety concerns and comments from landowners/ residents be made generally available” and encouraged them to have a representative keeping up with the project.

No motion was made in relation to the presentation.

During the meeting, the Council also approved:

• A raise of 25 cents an hour for a police officer for being with the department for six months.
• A raise for an officer who had been with the Maplesville Police Department for three years. Hayes said with the incremental that have been put in for new hires, they were set to make more than this officer.
• Raising the pay for part-time officers to $15 an hour.
• The agreement with Chilton County Board of Education to provide an SRO for $41,000.
• Allowing the Maplesville Fire Department to apply for an Alabama Health Care and Emergency Provider grant to purchase a device to do CPR chest compressions.
• A code of ethics for the fire department.
• Researching getting another brush truck for the fire department.