By Adam C. Powell | Special to the Advertiser 

The Maplesville Town Council met Monday for a regularly scheduled meeting, and just outside sat the Maplesville Fire Department’s new fire engine.

The tanker, purchased last month, recently underwent repairs and should be hitting the Maplesville streets later this month.

Inside the council chambers, Alabama Power representatives Van Forrester and Jeremy Prickett were addressing concerns about the planned construction of a power substation on Shepard Hill Road.

According to the representatives, the current substation is inadequate for the growing needs of the community and another station is required to assist with the additional power load.

Herman Williams, pastor at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, was the only person in attendance to voice concerns about the planned construction. Williams said he worried about potential negative affects to residents’ health.

Williams asked what steps Alabama Power has taken to ensure these types of ailments don’t beleaguer the community.

According to Prickett, the lines run high enough that there should be no impact to the community.

Further, the magnetic field surrounding these lines, which is believed to be responsible for causing maladies mentioned by Williams, is only a couple of inches around. Prickett said he would be working in closer proximity to the lines than any member of the community would be allowed to get.

Fire Chief Michael Drewry noted that two doors at the town’s fire station are in need of repair, and the council approved having someone come look at the doors and provide an estimate for the repairs.

Drewry also noted that Courtney Harrison, the 22-year-old daughter-in-law of Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman who completed the department’s CPR class last month, has submitted an application to be a part of the department.

The council quickly approved accepting Harrison’s application.

Drewry reported 12 total calls for the month of June, including four vehicle wrecks–an unusually high number for the town.

Police Chief Todd Ingram reported that officer Ken Casey will graduate soon from the police academy, with stellar performance, and should be on the streets before the next council meeting.

The department served 10 warrants last month and contributed more than $4,000 to the department’s general fund, Ingram said.

Ingram also noted that the number of tickets given out, 79, has increased, as well as the number of DUIs and drug cases.

Ingram also discussed a Facebook scam that has targeted local residents, having them send $300 in assurance that a $50,000 check would arrive at their home the next day.

The department followed up on the account sending the false claims and traced it back to Nigeria.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” Ingram said.

In other business:

•The council approved sending letters to two Maplesville property owners, Wesley Hicks and John White, concerning the presence of refuse alongside the road on their properties. The owners asked that the town send the letters so they could pass them on to their tenants rather than address the situation personally.

•Barbara White, a representative for the Chilton County Veterans Affairs office, addressed the council and those in attendance. White noted that there are services available to veterans and widows at the county courthouse.

•The board approved the purchase of an eight-channel camera receiver and two new cameras to be installed at town hall for the price of $1,465.33.

•The council approved a six-month raise of 25 cents an hour for Senior Center Manager Sandy Madsen effective immediately.

•The council approved the annual allocation of $500 to Chilton County Transit.

•The council approved the allocation of $1,000 for Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center and $300 for CareNet Pregnancy Resource Center of Chilton County.

•The council renewed a resolution to match 20 percent of the Recreational Trail Program, or $13,385, a grant the town applied for last year but didn’t receive.

•Hayes noted that he plans to meet with Gov. Robert Bentley and representatives from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs concerning a grant to improve the city’s sewer system.

Municipal court will be held at 4 p.m. July 20, and the next council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 10.