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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council unanimously approved authorizing Mayor Jeff Mims and the city clerk to finalize a hotel development agreement with Mansa CTN LLC at its Nov. 7 meeting.

A Hampton Inn by Hilton with 94 rooms is planned for 2000 Big M Boulevard, near Interstate 65, Exit 205.

The city had recently purchased the site for $1.5 million. Mansa will buy half of the property, slightly less than two acres, for $850,000.

“The company has reported to the city that the rise in construction and labor costs along with the current market for overnight accommodations in the area of the site it is not feasible to construct and develop a hotel without substantial assistance from the city,” the ordinance states.

As a part of the development agreement with the city, the company will receive a lodging tax rebate of 3% up to $1 million or for 18 years, whichever happens first from opening of the hotel.

The project addresses what the city calls a “facility that has fallen into disrepair and become a source of public concern due to blight and blight related issues” existing on the property and takes advantage of property in “an area that the city believes to be an important location for new commercial growth and development,” according to the ordinance.

The council approved suspending its rules to allow them to vote on it in the same meeting as the first reading of the ordinance.

Also during the meeting, the council unanimously approved:

• Accepting streets in Ballington Subdivision.
• A lease agreement with J&J Print Shop for them to use a city-owned building.
• A lease agreement with Chilton County Transit for them to use a city-owned building.
• Approving a bid from Chilton Contractors to use them to clear property that the city has purchased across from Walmart.
• Declaring some of its property as surplus so it can be sold.