The city of Clanton is ending its contract with Judicial Correction Services, the private probation firm at the center of a lawsuit filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

SPLC alleges JCS has violated federal racketeering laws by extorting money from impoverished residents by threatening them with jail when they fall behind on paying municipal court fines.

SPLC also argues that Clanton’s contract with JCS, which was approved in February 2009, violates state law by allowing JCS to charge probationers a $40 monthly fee on top of the monthly payment toward their fines, and because the contract was not put up for competitive bidding, creating an illegal monopoly.

Clanton’s City Council on Monday approved a 30-day notice to JCS notifying the company of the termination of the contract.

Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver said the city’s municipal court would begin collecting fees and fines in-house, as it did before the contract with JCS.

The case is being handled in federal court in Montgomery.

“Where we go from here depends on the court,” Driver said.

In other business, the council:

•Heard from Economic Developer Fred Crawford with the Chilton County Industrial Development Board, who announced a $2.2 million expansion at Clanton factor Kumi Manufacturing Alabama. Look for more bout the expansion in a future edition of the newspaper.

•Voted to participate in a sales tax holiday from Aug. 7-9.

•Approved an agreement with the county for resurfacing of County Road 81, or New Harmony Road, from Bell Lane Church to the Intersection with Highway 31. Part of the stretch of road is city maintained, while the other part is owned by the county. Under the agreement, the city and county would split the 20-percent grant match for the project, so each would pay $40,000. A state grant would pay for the remainder of the project.

•Approved for Driver to seek an agreement with the contractor of the project to improve the intersection of highways 22 and 31 in Clanton, to renovate sidewalks near the intersection but outside of the project’s scope. Driver said he would seek an estimate for the work and report back to the council.

•Heard from Jackie Baker with West End Neighborhood Watch, who asked the mayor and council for help improving the appearance of the West End community in preparation for a May Day festival beginning at 11 a.m. May 9.

•Extended the lease for the space occupied by Farmers Home Furniture by five years. The city owns the Park Plaza retail facility.

•Appointed Louise Campbell to administer a grant for water and sewer service to the site of the planned hospital in Clanton.

•Approved minutes from the April 13 meeting.

•Approved paying the necessary bills.