Progress is being made to reopen the E.M. Henry Head Start Center in Clanton, which has been closed since Jan. 21 due to fire code violations.

“It is looking like things are going well,” Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said on Wednesday. “I feel good about the work being done, and we are just trying to press ahead as fast as we can.”

Clanton’s Fire Marshal was called to the facility on Jan. 21 when a security alarm sounded, apparently because of an overloaded electrical circuit. During the visit, other fire code violations were found, including an out-of-service stove hood being cooked under.

Because the building is owned by the city of Clanton (Head Start pays a minimal monthly rent), Clanton Fire Department Chief David Driver said he contacted the state fire marshal’s office for an inspection, to avoid any conflict of interest.

The state fire marshal’s report listed 36 violations, but Driver and Clanton Councilman Sammy Wilson said work is being done to make sure all of the issues have been corrected prior to inspection.

“We have received the new light fixtures, we are getting two exit doors installed, but everything is coming along really well,” Wilson said. “We also have a sprinkler system almost finished except for some drops we have to put in.”

Although Wilson said it is hard to be certain when Head Start could officially reopen, he anticipates an inspection by the fire marshal being ready in the next month or so.

“I’m hoping that within 45 days we could have everything inspected to see if we are good to go,” Wilson said. “So far, everything has been going really well, and we hope that we can get everything ready so it passes inspection.”

At the time of closing, the facility had 40 students who attended.