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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Maplesville Town Council has expressed its intention to end its current contract for garbage pickup with LDI in November.

In a previous meeting, Mayor W.C. Hayes had expressed concern at the cost to residents and wanted to see if there was a less expensive option that would use the Thorsby transfer station.

A motion to send a letter to LDI to end the contract was approved at the April 11 meeting.

The council also voted to renew its contact with the Middle Alabama Agency on Aging during the meeting.

Brad and Gina Abbott of Maplesville High School were in attendance to present a request for help replacing the gym floor. He said he is in the gym a lot and several different groups of students use the gym.

“We are trying to get that gymnasium up to a standard we have at the school,” Brad Abbott said.

Council member Sheila Hall reminded the council that they had donated funds to MHS in the past for championship rings for the football team, and that something should be given toward this project.

Hayes said the rings were purchased for three years, totaling $22,000 over that time.

The council approved donating $8,700 to the gym floor project, which was the amount that would be needed to complete the project when combined with existing funds that were available. Council member Hal Harrison abstained from the vote because of his leadership position on the athletic club.

William Wright of Emmanuel Independent Baptist Church was approved as a reserve officer for the Maplesville Police Department and as a chaplain.

Chief Robbie Autery said the pastor had approached him about ways he could serve the community.

Wright said being a pastor means “my title is servant.”

“As a chaplain, any time we have something major go on, we would call him out,” Autery said. “He doesn’t take the place of anybody’s clergyman, but he is there to offer assistance, prayer … for not just the community, but within the police department.”

The council also:

• Approved an out-of-state trip for training for the SRO.
• Discussed that the future site of the storm shelter for Shanks Drive. Hayes said the area has been marked. A CAWACO grant has been secured to help fund the project.