Fair may have found a temporary home at Clanton City Park

The Chilton County Fair may have found a home for 2014.

Fair organizers moved the event away from its long-time location when it became a safety hazard for the adjacent Chilton County Airport.

Plans call for the fair to be held on property near the old Adair school, but the site won’t be ready for this year’s fair, to be held from Oct. 13-18.

So, Scott Zuelzke with the Clanton Kiwanis Club approached the Clanton City Council during a regular meeting on Monday to ask about space to hold a “scaled-down” version of the fair this year.

The Council voted unanimously to accommodate the fair at Clanton City Park, in the grassy area and parking lot near the playground.

The Council heard from a representative of another local service organization. Gordon Swenson with the Rotary Club of Chilton County thanked the Council and Mayor Billy Joe Driver for their support of the club’s Christmas Festival and the Clanton Christmas Parade in December 2013.

The festival was held at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center.

The Council also addressed issues raised by members of Clanton’s West End community.

Jackie Baker and Jessie Binion with the West End Neighborhood Watch asked what could be done about several dilapidated lots in the community.

Driver told those in attendance about the problems associated with tearing down old homes, and even with city workers trying to keep the grass cut.

Councilman Greg DeJarnett said he had obtained permits from property owners to tear down some dilapidated lots. Other officials said they would work to address the situation.

LaGora Lykes with Head Start told the Council and mayor that since the closing of the E.M. Henry Head Start Center in West End, she doesn’t have an office to work out of.

Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell told Lykes she could possibly work out of a vacant office at the Housing Authority facility in West End.

Driver updated the Council on the situation with the Head Start Center, which has been closed since January. The state fire marshal’s office won’t allow the re-opening of the facility until fire code violations have been addressed by an architect, but one architect contacted about the project said the building is likely a loss, considering electrical wiring was installed improperly.

In other business, the Council:

•Agreed to a proposal from representatives of the Clanton ALFA office, to accept a piece of property from the business in lieu of a $350 filing fee to have adjacent property re-zoned from residential to business, so the business could have a 1,700-square feet structure constructed onto the existing building, located at 301 First St. N.

•Transferred a license for off-premises consumption of beer and wine to new owners of a business located at 500 Seventh St. S.

•Heard from Paul DeMarco, who is running for 6th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I think it’s important for your representative to be from Alabama, and take those Alabama values to Washington D.C.,” said DeMarco, who also announced intentions to maintain an office in Clanton if elected.

•Accepted the resignation of a part-time police officer.

•Approved the minutes from the March 24 meeting, with one correction made by Councilwoman Mary Mell Smith, and approved paying the necessary bills.

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