Courthouse elevator in need of repairs

Published 3:08 pm Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Members of the Chilton County Commission plan to look into repair and maintenance work for the elevator located at the Chilton County Courthouse.

Commissioner Greg Moore told commissioners during the regularly scheduled meeting on Monday that recent work had been done on the elevator, and the elevator is in need of much larger repairs.

“Basically, we were told that the elevator is on its very last leg,” said county administrator Connie Powell. “Due to the time when the elevator was built, there are no replacement parts that could be ordered. They don’t make them anymore, so to fix this would be a major expenditure.”

Powell said the elevator would more than likely require a new structure to be built.

“I think waiting to look into this until it goes out is the wrong decision,” commissioner Shannon Welch said. “This is something that needs to be looked into soon.”

Commissioner Joseph Parnell asked what would happen if the elevator stopped working today.

“We would have to call the sheriff to bring in some people to carry the people where they needed to go,” Commission Chairman Allen Caton said.

“I think this is a good opportunity for us to be proactive,” Welch said. “Let’s make preparations to look into this now, and get prices for what it would cost and prepare to make that move to situate us.”

Caton asked the commission for permission to work with Powell on acquiring prices from individuals regarding elevator maintenance.

“We will bring the recommendations back to the commission,” Caton said.

During the public comments section of the meeting, commissioners heard from Chamber of Commerce Managing Consultant Janice Hull.

Hull congratulated the commission on the recent purchase of 520 acres of land for an industrial park.

Hull said the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce agreed to sponsor two commissioners and two members of the Clanton City Council to attend an Economic Development Association of Alabama conference this year.

Several commissioners told Hull they would like to attend, and offered to pay their own way to the conference.

“Just let me know who would like to go, and we can make it happen,” Hull said.

The conferences are at various locations in the state and last from 9:30 until 3 p.m.

For more from Monday’s meeting, check a future edition of The Clanton Advertiser or visit www.clantonadvertiser.com.